BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  nest  is  a  mass  of  reeds  and  water-soaked  decaying  vegetable  matter,  usually 
floating  and  attached  to  growing  reeds.  The  eggs  number  from  four  to  eight,  and 
are  dull  white,  and  usually  much  soiled.  Size  about  1.75  x  1.20. 

2.    FAMILY  GAVIID.XE.      LOONS 

The  family  of  loons  is  represented  in  our  territory  by  one  genus,  Gavia,  com- 
posed of  two  species,  which  are  quite  the  equal  of  the  grebes  in  the  matter  of  swim- 
ming and  diving.  They  rarely  visit  the  land  except  for  the  purpose  of  nidification ; 
in  fact,  they  are  almost  helpless  when  on  shore,  and  move  with  the  greatest  diffi- 
culty. Their  food  consists  largely  of  fish,  which  they  procure  by  diving  and  pur- 
suing under  water. 

Genus  Gavia  (J.  R.  Forst.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

Two  species  occur  within  the  State,  which  may  be  distinguished  as  follows: 

1.  Wing  13  inches  or  more.     Loon. 

1.  Wing  11.5  inches  or  less.     Red-throated  Loon. 

4.  Gavia  immer  (Brunn.).    LOON. 

Description:  Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts,  wings,  tail,  and  neck  black  with  bluish  or 
greenish  reflections;  spaces  on  the  throat  and  sides  of  neck  streaked  with  white;  back  and 
wings  spotted  and  barred  with  white;  breast  and  belly  white;  sides  and  a  band  at  base  of  under 
tail-coverts  black  spotted  with  white.  Ads.  in  winter  and  Im. — Upperparts,  wings,  and  tail 
blackish  margined  with  grayish,  not  spotted  with  white;  underparts  white:  throat  sometimes 
washed  with  grayish.  L.,  32.00;  W.,  14.00;  Tar.,  3.40;  B.,  2.80.  (Chap.,  'Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  part  of  Northern  Hemisphere,  breeding  in  America  from  northern 
United  States  northward,  wintering  from  southern  New  England  to  Florida. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter;  occasional  inland. 

"The  Loon,  or  Great  Northern  Diver,  is  a  large,  heavy  bird  with  long  stout  neck 
and  strong  sharp  beak.  In  bulk  it  is  the  equal  of  a  fair-sized  goose  (Fig.  3),  and 
many  specimens  are  fully  three  feet  long.  On  land  it  is  almost  helpless,  and  in  fact 
appears  incapable  of  rising  except  from  a  large  sheet  of  water,  along  the  surface 
of  which  it  can  patter  a  distance  before  finally  swinging  clear.  In  the  spring  and 
summer  plumage  the  white-fluted  collar,  with  its  upright  lines  of  black  spots,  forms 
a  beautiful  and  conspicuous  part  of  its  attire. 

"The  summer  home  of  the  Loon  is  on  the  clear  northern  lakes.  In  winter  it  is 
common  along  the  southern  coast,  and  wherever  found  its  presence  is  known  to  the 
inhabitants — War  Loon,  the  fishermen  often  call  it.  Although  striking  in  appear- 
ance, it  would  hardly  have  won  its  place  in  poetry  and  legend  but  for  its  cry,  which 
is  one  of  the  wildest  notes  in  all  nature.  Loud  and  far-reaching,  it  comes  ringing 
across  the  water  to  one's  ears  with  startling  effect.  There  is,  too,  a  quality  of 
unspeakable  sadness  in  the  notes,  suggestive  of  heart-breaking  anguish. 

"While  the  writer  was  lying  at  anchor  on  the  great  Pamlico  Sound  in  a  heavy 
fog  early  one  morning,  a  Loon  suddenly  emerged  from  the  water  but  a  few  rods 
distant.  His  figure,  distended  by  the  fog,  seemed  immense.  Surprised  by  the 
proximity  of  the  silent,  phantom-like  vessel,  the  bird,  ere  it  plunged  again  into  the 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  21 


deep,  burst  into  a  prolonged  shout  like  a  peal  of  coarse,  profane  laughter.  The 
effect  was  most  startling,  and  although  the  bird  is  exceedingly  sagacious  in  avoid- 
ing its  enemies,  the  observer  might  well  feel  that,  judging  from  its  cry,  this  weird 
creature  is  in  reality  a  maniac. 

"Loons  are  often  killed  for  food.  Many  are  annually  shot  from  the  dunes  near 
Cape  Lookout,  as  they  pass  northward  in  the  spring.  This  bird  is  a  common  winter 
resident  in  Pamlico  Sound,  and  along  the  coast  generally,  except  in  Albemarle 


FIG.  3.     COMMON  LOON;  GREAT  NORTHERN  DIVER  (Spring  Plumage). 

Sound,  where,  possibly,  the  black  character  of  the  water  interferes  with  its  vision 
while  diving.  Sometimes  the  Loon  is  driven  to  earth  far  inland  by  stress  of  weather. 
On  such  occasions  it  seems  unable  to  rise,  and  is  easily  captured.  The  following 
records  have  been  made  of  its  occurrence  inland:  Harnett  County,  December  9, 
1896;  Raleigh,  April  13,  1897,  and  November  17,  1897;  Guilford  College,  April, 
1896;  and  Greensboro,  April  19,  1900. — PEARSON. 

5.  Gavia  stellata  (Pont.).     RED-THROATED  LOON. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Back,  wings,  and  tail  fuscous,  more  or  less  spotted  with  white;  head  and 
neck  ashy  gray;  foreneck  chestnut;  back  of  neck  black,  streaked  with  white;  breast  and  belly 
white;  longer  under  tail-coverts  and  band  at  the  base  of  shorter  ones  fuscous.  Ads.  in  winter, 
and  Im. — Similar  to  G.  Immer,  but  back  spotted  with  white.  L.,  25.00;  W.,  11.00;  Tar.,  2.60: 
B.,  2.00.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  part  of  Northern  Hemisphere,  breeding  mainly  in  the  Arctic  regions; 
winters  from  Main  to  Florida 

Range  in  North  <  arolina. — (  oasta  I  region  in  winter. 


LIBE. 


.  . 

<  ., 


Q 


Plate   1 


RUBY-THROATED    HUMMINGBIRD,     ArchilocHus  colubris    (Linn.)      Male  and  Female 


NORTH  CAROLINA  GEOLOGICAL  AND 
ECONOMIC  SURVEY 

JOSEPH  HYDE  PRATT,  STATE  GEOLOGIST 


VOLUME  IV 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


BY 


T.  GILBERT,  PEARSON,  C.  S.  BRIMLEY  AND  H.  H.  BRIMLEY 


RALEIGH 

EDWAEDS  &  BROUGHTON  FEINTING  Co. 

STATE  PEINTERS 

1919 


DOCUMENTS  DEPA  TMENT 
APR  2-6  1956 

LIBRARY 
^UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


GEOLOGICAL  BOARD 


GOVERNOR  T.  W.  BICKETT,  ex  officio  Chairman Raleigh,  N.  C. 

FRANK  R.  HEWITT Asheville,  N.  C. 

JOHN  SPRUNT  HILL Durham,  N.  C. 

C.  C.  SMOOT  III North  Wilkesboro,  N.  C. 

R.  G.  LASSITER Oxford,  N.  C. 


JOSEPH  HYDE  PRATT,  State  Geologist Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 


BIOLOGY 
LIBRAE/ 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL 


CHAPEL  HILL,  N.  C.,  April  1,  1918. 

To  His  Excellency,  HONORABLE  T.  W.  BICKETT, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

SIR:— There  is  herewith  submitted  for  publication,  as  Volume  IV  of  the 
reports  of  the  North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey,  a  treatise  on 
The  Birds  of  North  Carolina  which  has  been  prepared  by  Mr.  T.  Gilbert  Pearson, 
Secretary  of  the  National  Association  of  Audubon  Societies;  Mr.  H.  H.  Brimley, 
Curator  of  the  State  Museum,  and  Mr.  C.  S.  Brimley,  Naturalist. 

This  report  was  printed  in  1913,  by  E.  M.  Uzzell,  Public  Printer,  and  the 
material  was  all  ready  for  binding  when  the  whole  edition  was  destroyed  by  the 
fire  which  burned  Mr.  Uzzell's  plant.  In  this  reprint  additional  matter  has 
been  added  in  the  way  of  notes  and  illustrations,  bringing  the  volume  up  to  date. 

Yours  respectfully. 

JOSEPH  HYDE  PRATT, 

State  Geologist. 


268 


HUGH  MACRAE Wilmington,  N.  C. 

FRANK  R.  HEWITT Asheville,  N.  C. 

HENRY  E.  FRIES Winston-Salem,  N.  C. 

WILLIAM  H.  WILLIAMSON  Raleigh,  N.  C. 


JOSEPH  HYDE  PRATT,  State  Geologist  Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL 


CHAPEL  HILL,  N.  C.,  June  1,  1913. 

To  His  Excellency,  HONORABLE  LOCKE  CRAIG, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

SIR:- — I  herewith  submit  for  publication,  as  Volume  IV  of  the  reports  of  the 
North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey,  a  report  on  The  Birds  of  North 
Carolina  which  has  been  prepared  by  Mr.  T.  Gilbert  Pearson,  Secretary  of  the 
National  Association  of  Audubon  Societies;  Mr.  H.  H.  Brimley,  Curator  of  the 
State  Museum,  and  Mr.  C.  S.  Brimley,  Naturalist. 

This  report  is  published  as  one  of  the  series  of  volumes,  as  it  represents  a  de- 
tailed study,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  a  complete  report  of  the  subject  up  to  the 
present  time.  Yours  respectfully, 

JOSEPH  HYDE  PRATT, 

State  Geologist. 


PREFACE 

The  present  volume,  Birds  of  North  Carolina,  is  a  joint  publication  of  the  North 
Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey,  the  State  Audubon  Society  of  North 
Carolina,  and  the  State  Museum.  Mr.  T.  Gilbert  Pearson,  former  Secretary  of 
the  North  Carolina  Audubon  Society,  was  asked  to  take  the  supervision  of  the 
work,  and,  after  consultation  with  Messrs.  H.  H.  and  C.  S.  Brimley,  they  decided 
on  a  joint  authorship.  The  State  Audubon  Society  of  North  Carolina  for  the 
study  and  protection  of  wild  birds  and  animals  authorized  the  preparation  of  the 
material,  and  appropriated  the  necessary  funds  to  have  prepared  the  original  draw- 
ings and  paintings  with  which  it  is  illustrated. 

The  object  of  this  publication  is  to  place  in  the  hands  of  interested  persons  a 
book  of  ready  reference  which  will  be  of  assistance  to  them  in  acquiring  further 
information  regarding  the  birds  of  North  Carolina;  and  also  to  preserve  in  per- 
manent form  the  hitherto  widely  scattered  data  relative  to  the  distribution  and 
occurrence  of  the  many  rare  species  that  have  been  found  to  occur  within  the  bor- 
ders of  the  State.  To  assist  the  student  in  identifying  birds,  an  artificial  key  to 
the  various  orders,  families,  genera,  and  species  of  birds  has  been  given,  as  well 
as  a  detailed  description  of  each  one  treated.  As  a  still  further  aid,  the  book  has 
been  somewhat  more  fully  illustrated  than  is  usual  in  works  of  this  character.  A 
record  of  the  presence  of  a  rare  bird  is  of  little  scientific  value  unless  the  date 
and  place  of  its  appearance  are  noted ;  hence  there  is  frequent  mention  in  the  text 
of  the  year,  month,  and  day  when  birds  of  infrequent  occurrence  have  been  noted, 
together  with  a  citation  of  the  authorities  for  the  statement. 

The  volume  takes  up,  first,  a  brief  historical  sketch  of  North  Carolina  ornithol- 
ogy, and  an  account  of  the  work  of  the  State  Audubon  Society.  It  has  been  pre- 
pared by  T.  Gilbert  Pearson,  who  was  the  founder  of  the  society  and  who  for 
many  years  was  its  very  efficient  secretary.  Following  this  is  a  sketch  by  C.  S. 
Brimley  on  "Life  Zones  and  Bird  Distribution,"  which  gives  a  description  of  the 
four  life  zones  represented  in  North  Carolina. 


viii  BIKDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Before  taking  up  the  systematic  catalogue  of  North  Carolina  birds,  there  is 
given  a  short  explanatory  statement  relating  to  keys  and  descriptions. 

The  descriptive  list  of  birds  of  North  Carolina  contains  records  of  the  occur- 
rence of  341  species  and  varieties  of  birds  taken  in  North  Carolina.  It  is  neces- 
sarily an  incomplete  list,  as  new  discoveries  will  continue  to  be  made  from  time  to 
time,  but  it  is  intended  to  serve  as  a  basis  for  future  observations,  and  as  a  book 
for  consultation  until  a  more  adequate  publication  shall  have  taken  its  place. 

In  this  catalogue  the  descriptions  of  species  are  taken  mainly  from  the  superb 
Handbook  of  Birds  of  Eastern  North  America  by  Frank  M.  Chapman,  copy- 
righted 1895  and  1912  by  D.  Appleton  &  Co.  For  this  courtesy  both  the  authors 
and  the  Survey  are  indebted  to  the  publishers.  These  descriptions  are  followed  by 
an  account  of  the  range  of  the  species  in  North  Carolina,  and,  as  far  as  possible, 
full  notes  are  given  regarding  observations  made  on  the  habits  of  the  birds. 

Following  the  catalogue  of  the  birds,  there  are  Appendices  on  the  Bibliography 
of  North  Carolina  Birds;  on  Migration  of  Birds  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  1895 
to  1911,  as  recorded  by  H.  H.  Brimley  and  C.  S.  Brimley;  on  the  Song  Period  of 
Birds  at  Raleigh  as  recorded  by  C.  S.  Brimley;  and  a  brief  Glossary.  The  authors 
and  the  Survey  are  indebted  to  a  number  of  North  Carolina  bird  students,  and 
many  references  have  been  made  in  the  general  text  to  the  material  furnished  by 
them.  Of  these  the  authors  particularly  wish  to  mention  the  following:  Mr.  T.  W. 
Adickes,  Mr.  Stephen  C.  Bruner,  Mr.  George  W.  MacNider,  Mr.  Z.  P.  Metcalf,  and 
Mr.  Alexander  L.  Feild  of  Raleigh;  Dr.  J.  W.  P.  Smithwick  of  Kinston;  Mr. 
Thomas  A.  Smithwick  of  Merry  Hill,  Bertie  County;  Mr.  R.  W.  Collett  of 
Raleigh;  Mr.  J.  H.  Armfield  of  Greensboro;  and  Mr.  Ernest  Seeman  of  Durham. 
To  those  outside  the  State  who  have  rendered  special  assistance,  we  wish  to  express 
our  appreciation  of  the  kindness  of  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam,  and  of  Mr.  Henry  W. 
Henshaw,  each  of  whom,  in  turn,  as  Chief  of  the  United  States  Biological  Survey, 
has  permitted  the  examination  of  all  Government  migration-schedules  from  North 
Carolina;  of  Mr.  W.  W.  Cooke  and  Mr.  W.  L.  McAtee,  assistants  in  the  United 
States  Biological  Survey,  for  several  overlooked  records;  of  Dr.  Louis  B.  Bishop 


PREFACE  ix 

of  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  for  his  observations  on  the  birds  of  Pea  Island;  of 
Mr.  William  Brewster  of  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  for  data  on  specimens  of 
North  Carolina  birds  in  his  collection;  and  of  Mr.  Waldron  DeWitt  Miller  for 
critically  reviewing  the  identification  keys. 

The  Survey  and  authors  are  indebted  to  the  National  Association  of  Audubon 
Societies  for  very  valuable  assistance  in  editing  and  preparing  the  manuscript  of 
this  volume,  and  we  wish  herewith  to  express  our  grateful  appreciation  for  the 
many  courtesies  extended  to  us  by  this  association. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  volume,  the  authors  have  given  their  time  to  the  work 
very  willingly  and  enthusiastically,  without  remuneration  other  than  the  pleasure 
that  they  may  derive  from  the  thought  and  hope  that  they  may  be  able  to  arouse 
in  some  slight  degree  a  more  lively  appreciation  of  the  value  of  studying  and  pre- 
serving the  rich  bird-life  with  which  North  Carolina  is  so  abundantly  blessed. 
They  have  shared  the  labor  in  preparing  the  manuscript,  and  have,  without  stint, 
revised  one  another's  writings.  The  final  drafting  of  the  manuscript,  however,  as 
well  as  the  superintending  of  the  preparation  of  the  illustrations,  has  been  done 
by  Mr.  Pearson. 

When  we  consider  the  great  economic  importance  of  wild  birds  as  destroyers  of 
many  of  those  insects  which  are  injurious  to  growing  crops,  stored  grain,  fruit 
trees  and  forests,  and  also  the  value  of  the  esthetic  effect  of  their  presence  about 
the  home,  we  marvel  that  any  citizen  should  permit  the  wanton  killing  of  useful 
species  on  his  premises.  Our  native  game  birds,  such  as  the  Ruffed  Grouse,  Quail, 
Wild  Turkey,  Woodcock,  and  the  various  species  of  Wild  Ducks  and  Geese,  are  of 
such  inestimable  value  to  the  State  that  it  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  as  yet  there 
has  been  no  adequate  legislative  enactment  looking  to  their  preservation.  The  Sur- 
vey and  the  authors,  in  this  connection,  urge  the  abolition  of  the  multitudinous  and 
confusing  local  county  game  laws,  and  a  substitution  in  their  place  of  State-wide 
uniform  laws  regulating  the  seasons  when  the  various  kinds  of  birds  and  game 
animals  may  be  taken;  and  the  establishment  of  a  State  Game  Commission,  to  be 
supported  by  a  fund  collected  from  resident  and  nonresident  hunters'  licenses.  In 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


view  of  the  rapid  decrease  of  our  game  birds  and  game  animals,  we  would  further 
advocate  most  earnestly  the  absolute  prohibition  of  the  sale  of  all  wild  game,  which 
act  would  be  in  conformity  with  the  action  already  taken  in  the  greater  number  of 
the  States  in  the  Union.  Unless  advancement  is  made  along  these  lines,  it  is  plain 
to  any  intelligent  observer  that  North  Carolina  is  doomed  to  suffer  an  irreparable 
loss  in  the  diminution  of  wild  life,  which  is  one  of  its  chief  natural  resources. 

Another  purpose  of  the  present  volume  is,  therefore,  to  create  a  sentiment  for 

carrying  out  the  measures  suggested  above. 

JOSEPH  HYDE  PRATT, 

State  Geologist. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Preface vii 

List  of  Illustrations xvii 

Ornithological  Historical  Sketch 1 

Recent  Ornithological  Work 6 

The  State  Audubon  Society 7 

Life  Zones  and  Bird  Distribution 10 

The  Canadian  Zone 10 

The  Alleghanian  or  Transition  Zone 10 

The  Carolinian  or  Upper  Austral  Zone 11 

Lower  Austral  or  Austro-Riparian  Zone 11 

Seasonal  Distribution 12 

Explanation  of  Keys  and  Descriptions 13 

Key  to  the  Orders 14 

A  descriptive  List  of  North  Carolina  Birds 17 

Order  Pygopodes:  Diving  Birds 17 

Family  Colymbida? :  Grebes 17 

Genus  Colymbus  (Linn.) 17 

Genus  Podilymbus  (Less.) 19 

Family  Gaviidse :  Loons 20 

Genus  Gavia  (J.  R.  Forst) 20 

Family  Alcidse:  Auks,  Murres,  and  Puffins 22 

Genus  Uria  (Briss.) 23 

Genus  Alca  (Linn.) 23 

Genus  Alle  (Linn.) 24 

Order  Longipennes:  Long-Winged  Swimmers 25 

Family  Stercorariidsc :  Jaegers  and  Skuas 25 

Genus  Stercorarius  (Briss.) 25 

Family  Laridse :  Gulls  and  Terns 26 

Subfamily  Larinse :  Gulls 27 

Genus  Larus  (Linn.) 27 

Subfamily  Sterninse :  Terns 32 

Genus  Gelochelidon  (Brehm.) 32 

Genus  Sterna  (Linn.) 33 

Genus  Hydrochelidon  (Boie) 39 

Family  Rynchopidse:  Skimmers 40 

Genus  Rynchops  (Linn.) 40 

Order  Tubinares:  Tube-Nosed  Swimmers 41 

Family  Procellariidse :  Fulmars,  Shearwaters,  and  Petrels 41 

Genus  Puffinus  (Briss.) 41 

Genus  Oceanites  (K.  and  B.) 43 

Order  Steganopodes :  Totipalmate  Swimmers 45 

Family  SulidsD :  Gannets 45 

Genus  Sula  (Briss.) 45 

Family  Anhingidse:  Darters 46 

Genus  Anhinga  (Briss.) 46 

Family  Phalacrocoracidse :  Cormorants 47 

Genus  Phalacrocorax  (Briss.) 48 

Family  Pelecanidse :  Pelicans 49 

Genus  Pelecanus  (Linn.) 49 


xii  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


PAGE 

Family  Fregatidse:  Man-o'-War  Birds 52 

Genus  Fregata  (Lacep.) 52 

Order  Anseres :  Lamellirostral  Swimmers 53 

Family  Anatidse:  Ducks,  Geese,  and  Swans 53 

Genus  Mergus  (Linn.) 56 

Genus  Lophodytes  (Reichenb.) 58 

Genus  Anas  (Linn.) 59 

Genus  Chaulelasmus  (Bonap.) 62 

Genus  Mareca  (Steph.) 63 

Genus  Nettion  (Kaup.) 64 

Genus  Querquedula  (Steph.) 66 

Genus  Spatula  (Boie) 66 

Genus  Dafila  (Steph.) 68 

Genus  Aix  (Boie) 69 

Genus  Marila  (Oken) 70 

Genus  Clangula  (Oken) 77 

Genus  Charitonetta  (Stejn.) 79 

Genus  Harelda  (Steph.) 80 

Genus  Somateria  (Leach) 81 

Genus  Oidemia  (Flem.) 82 

Genus  Erismatura  (Bonap.) 84 

Subfamily  Anserinse:  Geese 85 

Genus  Chen  (Boie) 85 

Genus  Anser  (Briss.) 87 

Genus  Branta  (Scop.) 88 

Genus  Dendrocygna  (Swains.) 91 

Genus  Olor  (Wagl.) 91 

Order  Herodiones :  Herons,  Storks,  Ibises,  etc 93 

Family  Ibididse :  Ibises 93 

Genus  Guara  (Reichenb.) 93 

Family  Ciconiidse :  Storks 95 

Genus  Mycteria  (Linn.) 95 

Family  Ardeidae:  Herons  and  Bitterns 95 

Genus  Botaurus  (Steph.) 95 

Genus  Ixobrychus  (Billb.) 96 

Genus  Ardea  (Linn.) 97 

Genus  Herodias  (Boie) 99 

Genus  Egretta  (T.  Forst.) 100 

Genus  Hydranassa  (Baird) 101 

Genus  Florida  (Baird) 102 

Genus  Butorides  (Blyth) 104 

Genus  Nycticorax  (T.  Forst.) 105 

Genus  Nyctanassa  (Stejn.) 106 

Order  Paludicolse:  The  Marsh-Birds 106 

Family  Rallidse:  Rails,  Gallinules,  and  Coots 107 

Genus  Rallus  (Linn.) 107 

Genus  Porzana  (Vieill.) Ill 

Genus  Coturnicops  (Bonap.) 112 

Genus  Creciscus  (Cab.) 112 

Genus  lonornis  (Reichenb.) 113 

Genus  Gallinula  (Briss.) 114 

Genus  Fulica  (Linn.) 115 

Order  Limicolse:  Shore-Birds. . .  116 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Family  Phalaropodidsc  Phalaropes 118 

Genus  Phalaropus  (Briss.) 118 

Genus  Lobipes  (Cuv.) 119 

Genus  Steganopus  (Vieill.) 120 

Family  Recurvirostridse :  Avocets  and  Stilts 121 

Genus  Recurvirostra  (Linn.) 121 

Genus  Himantopus  (Briss.) 122 

Family  Scolopacidse:  Snipes,  Sandpipers,  etc 123 

Genus  Philohela  (Gray) 124 

Genus  Gallinago  (Koch.) 125 

Genus  Macrorhamphus  (T.  Forst.) 126 

Genus  Micropalama  (Baird) 127 

Genus  Tringa  (Linn.} 128 

Genus  Pisobia  (BiOb.) 129 

Genus  Pelidna  (Cuv.) 131 

Genus  Ereunetes  (Illig.) 132 

Genus  Calidris  (Illig.) 133 

Genus  Limosa  (Briss.) 134 

Genus  Totanus  (Bechst.) 136 

Genus  Helodromas  (Kaup.) 138 

Genus  Catoptrophorus  (Bonap.) 138 

Genus  Machetes  (Cuv.) 140 

Genus  Bartramia  (Less.) 140 

Genus  Tryngites  (Cab.) 141 

Genus  Actitis  (Illig.) 142 

Genus  Numenius  (Briss.) 143 

Family  Charadriidse :  Plovers 144 

Genus  Squatarola  (Cuv.) 145 

Genus  Charadrius  (Linn.) 145 

Genus  Oxyechus  (Reichenb.) 147 

Genus  ^Egialitis  (Boie) 147 

Genus  Ochthodromus  (Reichenb.) 149 

Family  Aphrizidse:  Surf-Birds  and  Turnstones 150 

Genus  Arenaria  (Briss.) 150 

Family  Haematopodidae :  Oyster-Catchers 151 

Genus  Hsematopus  (Linn.) 151 

Order  Gallinse:  Gallinaceous  Gallinaceous  Birds 152 

Family  Odontophoridae :  American  Quails 152 

Genus  Colinus  (Goldf.) 152 

Family  Tetraonidse:  Grouse 153 

Genus  Bonasa  (Steph.) 153 

Family  Meleagridse:  Turkeys 154 

Genus  Meleagris  (Linn.) 154 

Family  Phasianidse:  Pheasants •. 156 

Genus  Phasianus  (Linn.) 156 

Order  Columbae:  Pigeons  and  Doves 156 

Family  Columbidse:  Pigeons  and  Doves 156 

Genus  Zenaidura  (Bonap.) 157 

Genus  Chaomepelia  (Swains.) 158 

Order  Raptores:  Birds  of  Prey 159 

Family  Cathartidse:  American  Vultures 159 

Genus  Cathartes  (Illig.) 160 

Genus  Catharista  (Vieill.) 161 


xiv  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


PAGE 

Family  Buteonidse:  Hawks,  Eagles,  Kites,  etc 162 

Genus  Elanoides  (Vieill.) 162 

Genus  Ictinia  (Vieill.) 163 

Genus  Circus  (Lacep.) 164 

Genus  Accipiter  (Briss.) 164 

Genus  Buteo  (Lacep.) 166 

Genus  Archibuteo  (Brehm) 169 

Genus  Aquila  (Briss.) 170 

Genus  Halisetus  (Sav.) 171 

Family  Falconidae:  The  Falcons  and  Caracaras 173 

Genus  Falco  (Linn.) 173 

Family  Pandionidse :  Ospreys 175 

Genus  Pandion  (Sav.) 175 

Family  Aluconidffi :  Barn  Owls 177 

Genus  Aluco  (Flem.) 177 

Family  Strigidse:  Owls 178 

Genus  Asio  (Briss.) 178 

Genus  Strix  (Linn.) 180 

Genus  Cryptoglaux  (Richm.) 181 

Genus  Otus  (Penn.) 181 

Genus  Bubo  (Dumeril) .- 182 

Genus  Nyctea  (Steph.) 184 

Order  Coccyges:  Cuckoos,  Kingfishers,  etc 184 

Family  Cuculidse :  Cuckoos 185 

Genus  Crotophaga  (Linn.) 185 

Genus  Coccyzus  (Vieill.) 185 

Family  Alcedinidse :  Kingfishers 187 

Genus  Ceryle  (Boie) 187 

Order  Pici :  Woodpeckers,  etc 188 

Family  Picidae:  Woodpeckers 188 

Genus  Dryobates  (Boie) 188 

Genus  Sphyrapicus  (Baird) 191 

Genus  Phlceotomus  (C.&H.) 192 

Genus  Melanerpes  (Swains.) 194 

Genus  Centurus  (Swains.) 194 

Order  Macrochires:  Goatsuckers,  Swifts,  and  Hummingbirds 196 

Family  Caprimulgidse :  Goatsuckers 196 

Genus  Antrostomus  (Bonap.) 196 

Genus  Chordeiles  (Swains.) 199 

Family  Micropodidse:  Swifts 199 

Genus  Chsetura  (Steph.) 199 

Family  Trochilidse :  Hummingbirds 200 

Genus  Archilochus  (Reichenb.) 200 

Order  Passeres:  The  Perching  Birds 201 

Family  Tyrannidse:  Tyrant  Flycatchers 202 

Genus  Tyrannus  (Lacep.) 203 

Genus  Myiarchus  (Cab.) 204 

Genus  Sayornis  (Gray) 205 

Genus  Nuttallornis  (Ridgw.) 205 

Genus  Myiochanes  (C.  &  H.) 206 

Genus  Empidonax  (Cab.) 207 

Family  Alaudidse:  Larks 210 

Genus  Otocoris  (Bonap.) 211 


CONTENTS  xv 


PAGE 

Family  Corvidse :  Crows  and  Jays 212 

Genus  Cyanocitta  (Strickl.) 213 

Genus  Corvus  (Linn.) 213 

Family  Icteridse:  Blackbirds,  Orioles,  etc 216 

Genus  Dolichonyx  (Swains.) 217 

Genus  Molothrus  (Swains.) 219 

Genus  Agelaius  (Vieill.) 219 

Genus  Sturnella  (Vieill.) 220 

Genus  Icterus  (Briss.) 222 

Genus  Euphagus  (Cass.) 224 

Genus  Quiscalus  (Vieill.) 224 

Genus  Megaquiscalus  (Cass.) 226 

Family  Fringillidse :  Finches,  Sparrows,  etc 226 

Genus  Carpodacus  (Kaup) 227 

Genus  Loxia  (Linn.) 228 

Genus  Acanthis  (Borkh.) 230 

Genus  Astragalinus  (Cab.) 230 

Genus  Spinus  (Koch.) 231 

Genus  Passer  (J5nw».) 232 

Genus  Plectrophenax  (Stejn.) 233 

Genus  Calcarius  (Bechst.) 233 

Genus  Pooacetes  (Baird) 234 

Genus  Passerculus 235 

Genus  Ammodramus  (Swains.) 236 

Genus  Passerherbulus  (Mayn.) 237 

Genus  Chondestes  (Swains.) 241 

Genus  Zonotrichia  (Swains.) 242 

Genus  Spizella  (Bonap.) 243 

Genus  Junco  (Wagler) 245 

Genus  Peucsea  (Aud.) 247 

Genus  Melospiza  (Baird) 248 

Genus  Passerella  (Swains.) 251 

Genus  Pipilo  (Vieill.) 251 

Genus  Cardinalis  (Bonap.) 252 

Genus  Zamelodia  (Coues) 253 

Genus  Guiraca  (Swains.) 254 

Genus  Passerina  (Vieill.) 255 

Family  Tangaridse :  Tanagers 256 

Genus  Piranga  (Vieill.) 256 

Family  Hirundinidse :  Swallows 258 

Genus  Progne  (Boie.) 259 

Genus  Petrochelidon  (Cab.) 260 

Genus  Hirundo  (Linn.) 260 

Genus  Iridoprocne  (Coues) 261 

Genus  Riparia  (Forst.) 262 

Genus  Stelgidopteryx  (Baird) 263 

Family  Bombycillidae :  Waxwings / 264 

Genus  Bombycilla  (Vieill.) 264 

Family  Laniidse:  Shrikes 265 

Genus  Lanius  (Linn.) 265 

Family  Vireonidse :  Vireos 267 

Genus  Vireosylva  (Bonap.) 267 

Genus  Lanivireo  (Baird) 269 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


PAGE 

Genus  Vireo  (Vieitt.) 272 

Family  Mniotiltidae:  Wood  Warblers 272 

Genus  Mniotilta  (Vieill.) 273 

Genus  Protonotaria  (Baird) 274 

Genus  Helinaia  (And.) 275 

Genus  Helmitheros  (Raf.) 276 

Genus  Vermivora  (Ridgw.) 277 

Genus  Compsothlypis  (Cab.) 281 

Genus  Dendroica  (Gray) 282 

Genus  Seiurus  (Swains.) 299 

Genus  Oporornis  (Baird) 301 

Genus  Geothlypis  (Cab.) 303 

Genus  Icteria  (Vieill.) 304 

Genus  Wilsonia  (Bonap.) 305 

Genus  Setophaga  (Swains.) 307 

Family  Motacillidse :  Wagtails  and  Pipits 308 

Genus  Anthus  (Bechst.) 308 

Family  Mimidae:  Thrashers  and  Mockingbirds 309 

Genus  Mimus  (Boie) 309 

Genus  Dumetella  (S.  D.  W.) 310 

Genus  Toxostoma  (Wagl.) 311 

Family  Troglodytida? :  Wrens 312 

Genus  Thryothorus  (Vieill.) 313 

Genus  Thryomanes  (Scl.) 314 

Genus  Troglodytes  (Vieill.) 315 

Genus  Nannus  (Billb.) 316 

Genus  Cistothorus  (Cab.) 317 

Genus  Telmatodytes  (Cab.) 318 

Family  Certhiida?:  Creepers 319 

Genus  Certhia  (Linn.) 319 

Family  Sittidse:  Nuthatches 321 

Genus  Sitta  (Linn.) 321 

Family  Paridse:  Titmice 324 

Genus  Baeolophus  (Cab.) 324 

Genus  Penthestes  (Reichenb.) 325 

Family  Sylviidae:  Kinglets,  Gnatcatchers,  etc 326 

Genus  Regulus  (Cuv.) 326 

Genus  Polioptila  (Sci.) 328 

Family  Turdidse:  Thrushes  and  Bluebirds 329 

Genus  Hylocichla  (Baird) 329 

Genus  Planesticus : 333 

Genus  Sialia  (Swains.) 334 

Appendices 337 

Bibliography 337 

Migration  of  Birds  at  Raleigh,  1885-1915 344 

Song-period  of  Birds  at  Raleigh 349 

Glossary 350 

Index.  .  .  352 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


COLORED  PLATES 
]V0.  Facing  Page 

1.  Ruby-Throated  Hummingbird.     Archilochus  colubris  (Linn.).     Male  and 

Female.     Frontispiece. 

2.  Horned  Grebe.     Colymbus  auritus  (Linn.).     Male  and  Female 18 

3.  Royal  Tern.     Sterna  maxima  (Bodd.).     Standing.     Cabot's  Tern.     Sterna  sandvicensis 

acuflavida  (Cabot).     Sitting 34 

4.  Merganser.     Mergus  americanus  (Cass.).     Male  and  Female 56 

5.  Wood  Duck.     Aix  sponsa  (Linn.).     Male  and  Female 70 

6.  Canada  Goose.     Branta  canadensis  canadensis  (Linn.) 88 

7.  Yellow-Crowned  Night  Heron.     Nydanassa  violacea  (Linn.).     Adult  above,  immature 

below 106 

8.  Purple  Gallinule.     lonornis  martinicus  (Linn.) 114 

9.  Hudsonian  Curlew.     Numenius  hudsonicus  (Lath.) 144 

10.  Oyster-Catcher.     Hcematopus  palliatus  (Temm.) 150 

11.  Bob-White.     Colinus  virginianus  virginianus  (Linn.).     Male  and  Female 152 

12.  Swallow-Tailed  Kite.     Elanoides  forficatus  (Linn.).     Male  and  Female 162 

13.  Duck  Hawk.     Falco  peregrinus  anatum  (Bonap.).     Male  and  Female 172 

14.  Screech  Owl.     Otus  asio  asio  (Linn.).     Red  and  gray  phases 182 

15.  Red-Cockaded  Woodpecker.     Dryobates  borealis  (Vieill.).     Male  and  Female 190 

16.  Blue  Jay.     Cyanocitta  cristata  cristata  (Linn.) 212 

17.  Boat-Tailed  Grackle.     Megaquiscalus  maj or  major  (Vieill.).     Male  and  Female 226 

18.  White-Throated   Sparrow.        Zonotrichia   albicollis    (Gmel.),    Upper.      Fox   Sparrow. 

Passerella  iliaca  iliaca  (Merrem),  Lower 242 

19.  Painted  Bunting.     Passerina  ciris  (Linn.).     Male  and  Female : 256 

20.  Yellow-Throated  Warbler.     Dendroica  dominica  dominica  (Linn.),  Upper.     Prothono- 

tary  Warbler.     Protonotaria  citrea  (Bodd.),  Lower 292 

21.  Yellow  Warbler.      Dendroica  cestiva  oestiva   (Gmel.),   Upper.      Black-Throated   Blue 

Warbler.     Dendroica  ccerulescens  ccerulescens  (Gmel.),  Male  and  Female,  Lower.  .  .  294 

22.  Canada  Warbler.     Wilsonia  canadensis  (Linn.),  Upper.     Redstart.     Setophaga  ruticilla 

(Linn.),  Male  and  Female,  Lower 308 

23.  Brown-Headed  Nuthatch.     Sitta  pusilla  (Lath.).     Male  and  Female 322 

24.  Robin.     Planesticus  migratorius  migratorius  (Linn.).     Male  and  Female 334 

BLACK  AND  WHITE  PLATES 

A  I.     A  typical  tree  in  the  Cormorant  rookery.     The  small  cypress  pictured  contains 

twenty-eight  occupied  nests.     (Photo  by  H.  H.  Brimley) 48 

2.  Nest  of  Bald  Eagle.  This  nest  is  near  the  top  of  a  very  tall  pine,  growing  in  a 
thick  swamp,  two  or  three  hundred  yards  from  the  shores  of  White  Lake, 
Bladen  County.  The  nest  is  very  large,  having  been  added  to  year  after  year. 
It  is  approximately  a  hundred  feet  from  the  ground,  and  the  birds  are  reputed 
to  have  nested  in  this  tree,  or  near  by,  for  fifty  years  or  more.  (Photo  by 

T.  W.  Adickes) 48 

B  1.     Collecting  a  nest,  with  nearly  grown  youngs  of  Great  Blue  Heron.     Great  Lake, 

Craven  County.     (Photo  by  H.  H.  Brimley) 96 

2.  Young  Black  Skimmer  crouching  and  hiding  in  bunch  of  seaweed.  Note  the  pro- 
tective coloration.  Royal  Shoal,  Pamlico  Sound.  (Photo  by  H.  H.  Brimley) . .  96 


xviii  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


No.  Facing  Page 

C  1.     Cypress  tree,  Great  Lake,  Craven  County.     This  tree  contained  six  nests  of  Great 
Blue  Heron  when  photographed  (1909),  and  had  been  used  by  these  birds  for 

several  years.     (Photo  by  H.  H.  Brimley) 98 

2.  The  same  tree  one  year  later,  when  it  held  four  heron  nests  and  fifteen  nests  of 
Florida  Cormorant.  Note  how  the  Cormorants  tend  to  kill  the  trees  they 

use  for  nesting  purposes.     (Photo  by  H.  H.  Brimley) 98 

D  1.     Two  young  American  Egrets  in  the  tops  of  the  tall  cypresses  of  Crane  Neck. 

(Photo  by  T.  W.  Adickes) 100 

2.     In  the  tall  trees  of  Crane  Neck  Rookery.     Nest  and  two  young  of  American  Egret. 

(Photo  by  T.  W.  Adickes) 100 

E  1.     One  type  of  Fish  Hawk's  nest,  Great  Lake,  Craven  County.      Built  in  a  small 

cypress,  at  a  low  elevation.     (Photo  by  H.  H.  Brimley) 174 

2.  A  very  neat,  symmetrical  Fish  Hawk's  nest,  also  on  Great  Lake.  Old  bird  just 
alighting  on  nest.  As  the  bird  is  about  two  feet  in  length,  with  a  wing  spread 
of  about  five  feet,  some  idea  of  the  size  of  the  nest  may  be  gathered.  (Photo 

by  H.  H.  Brimley) 174 

TEXT  FIGURES 

PAGE 

1.  Holbcell's  Grebe  (Winter  Plumage) 18 

2.  Pied-Billed  Grebe 19 

3.  Common  Loon;  Great  Northern  Diver 21 

4.  Red-Throated  Loon 22 

5.  Dovekie 24 

6.  Glaucous  Gull 27 

7.  Great  Black-Backed  Gull 28 

8.  Herring  Gull 29 

9.  Ring-Billed  Gull 30 

10.  Laughing  Gull 31 

11.  Bonaparte's  Gull 32 

12.  Gull-Billed  Tern 32 

13.  Forster's  Tern 35 

14.  Common  Tern 36 

15.  Roseate  Tern 37 

16.  Least  Tern 38 

17.  Sooty  Tern , 38 

18.  Black  Tern 39 

19.  Black  Skimmer 40 

20.  Cory's  Shearwater 41 

21.  Greater  Shearwater 42 

22.  Audubon's  Shearwater 43 

23.  Sooty  Shearwater 43 

24.  Wilson's  Petrel 44 

25.  Gannet 46 

26.  Foot  of  Gannet  (natural  size) 46 

27.  Water-Turkey 47 

28.  Double-Crested  Cormorant 48 

29.  White  Pelican 50 

30.  Brown  Pelican 51 

31.  Man-o'-War  Bird 52 

32.  Red-Breasted  Merganser  (Adult  Male) 57 

33.  Hooded  Merganser  (Adult  Male) 58 


ILLUSTRATIONS  xix 


PAGE 

34.  Mallard  (Adult  Male) 60 

35.  Black  Duck 61 

36.  Gadwall 62 

37.  European  Widgeon  (Adult  Male) 63 

38.  Baldpate  (Adult  Male) 64 

39.  Green- Winged  Teal  (Adult  Male) 65 

40.  Blue-Winged  Teal  (Adult  Male) 66 

41.  Shoveller  (Adult  Male) 67 

42.  Pintail  (Adult  Male) 68 

43.  Redhead  (Adult  Male) 71 

44.  Canvasback  (Adult  Male) 72 

45.  Scaup;  Big  Blackhead  (Adult  Male) 74 

46.  Ring-Necked  Duck  (Adult  Male) 76 

47.  Golden-Eye  (Adult  Male) 77 

48.  Barrow's  Golden-Eye  (Adult  Male) 78 

49.  Bufflehead  (Adult  Male) 79 

50.  Old-Squaw  (Adult  Male) 80 

51.  King  Eider  (Adult  Male) 81 

52.  Scoter  (Adult  Male) 82 

53.  White-Winged  Scoter  (Adult  Male) 83 

54.  Surf  Scoter  (Adult  Male) 84 

55.  Ruddy  Duck  (Adult  Male) 85 

56.  Greater  Snow  Goose 86 

57.  White-Fronted  Goose  (Adult) 88 

58.  Brant 90 

59.  Whistling  Swan 92 

60.  White  Ibis 94 

61.  Bittern 96 

62.  Least  Bittern 97 

63.  Great  Blue  Heron 98 

64.  Egret 99 

65.  Snowy  Egret 101 

66.  Louisiana  Heron 102 

67.  Little  Blue  Heron 103 

68.  Green  Heron 104 

69.  Black-Crowned  Night  Heron 105 

70.  King  Rail 108 

71.  Clapper  Rail 109 

72.  Virginia  Rail 110 

73.  Sora Ill 

74.  Yellow  Rail 112 

75.  Black  Rail 113 

76.  Florida  Gallinule 114 

77.  Coot 115 

78.  Foot  of  Coot 115 

79.  Red  Phalarope 119 

80.  Northern  Phalarope 120 

81.  Foot  of  Northern  Phalarope 120 

82.  Wilson's  Phalarope 121 

83.  Avocet 122 

84.  Black-Necked  Stilt 123 

85.  Woodcock ' 124 

86.  Wilson's  Snipe .125 


xx  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


PAGE 

87.  Dowitcher 126 

88.  Stilt  Sandpiper 127 

89.  Knot 128 

90.  Pectoral  Sandpiper 129 

91.  White-Rumped  Sandpiper 130 

92.  Least  Sandpiper 131 

93.  Foot  of  Least  Sandpiper 131 

94.  Red  Backed  Sandpiper 132 

95.  Foot  of  Semipalmated  Sandpiper 133 

96.  Sanderling 134 

97.  Hudsonian  Godwit 135 

98.  Greater  Yellow-Legs 136 

99.  Yellow-Legs 137 

100.  Solitary  Sandpiper 138 

101.  Willet 139 

102.  Ruff  (Female  or  Immature  Male) 140 

103.  Upland  Plover 141 

104.  Spotted  Sandpiper 142 

105.  Long-Billed  Curlew 143 

106.  Black-Bellied  Plover 145 

107.  Foot  of  Black-Bellied  Plover 145 

108.  Golden  Plover 146 

109.  Foot  of  Golden  Plover 146 

110.  Killdeer 147 

111.  Semipalmated  Plover 148 

112.  Piping  Plover 149 

113.  Wilson's  Plover 149 

114.  Ruddy  Turnstone 150 

115.  Ruffed  Grouse 153 

116.  Foot  of  Ruffed  Grouse 153 

117.  Wild  Turkey 155 

118.  Mourning  Dove 158 

119.  Ground  Dove 158 

120.  Turkey  Vulture 160 

121.  Black  Vulture 161 

122.  Mississippi  Kite 163 

123.  Marsh  Hawk  (Male) 164 

124.  Sharp-Shinned  Hawk 165 

125.  Cooper's  Hawk 166 

126.  Red-Tailed  Hawk 167 

127.  Red-Shouldered  Hawk 168 

128.  Broad-Winged  Hawk 169 

129.  Rough-Legged  Hawk 170 

130.  Golden  Eagle 171 

131.  Foot  of  Golden  Eagle 171 

132.  Bald  Eagle 172 

133.  Foot  of  Bald  Eagle 172 

134.  Pigeon  Hawk 174 

135.  Sparrow  Hawk 174 

136.  Osprey 176 

137.  Barn  Owl 177 

138.  Long-Eared  Owl 179 

139.  Short-Eared  Owl. .  .    180 


ILLUSTRATIONS  xxi 


PAGE 

140.  Barred  Owl 181 

141.  Great  Horned  Owl 183 

142.  Foot  of  a  Snowy  Owl 184 

143.  Yellow-Billed  Cuckoo 186 

144.  Black-Billed  Cuckoo 187 

145.  Belted  Kingfisher 187 

146.  Foot  of  Belted  Kingfisher 187 

147.  Hairy  Woodpecker 189 

148.  Foot  of  Hairy  Woodpecker 189 

149.  Downy  Woodpecker 190 

150.  Yellow-Bellied  Sapsucker 192 

151.  Pileated  Woodpecker: 193 

152.  Red-Headed  Woodpecker 194 

153.  Flicker 195 

154.  Chuck-WilTs-Widow 197 

155.  Nighthawk  (upper)  and  Whip-Poor-Will  (lower) 198 

156.  Chimney  Swift 200 

157.  Foot  and  Tail  of  Chimney  Swift 200 

158.  Kingbird 203 

159.  Crested  Flycatcher 204 

160.  Phoebe 205 

161.  Wood  Pewee 206 

162.  Yellow-Bellied  Flycatcher 208 

163.  Acadian  Flycatcher 208 

164.  Alder  Flycatcher 209 

165.  Least  Flycatcher 210 

166.  Horned  Lark 211 

167.  Prairie  Horned  Lark 212 

168.  Northern  Raven 214 

169.  Crow 215 

170.  Bobolink  (a  male  in  nuptial  plumage) 218 

171.  Cowbird 219 

172.  Red-Winged  Blackbird 220 

173.  Meadowlark 221 

174.  Orchard  Oriole 222 

175.  Baltimore  Oriole 223 

176.  Rusty  Blackbird 224 

177.  Purple  Crackle 225 

178.  Purple  Finch 228 

179.  Crossbill 229 

180.  Redpoll 230 

181.  Goldfinch 231 

182.  Pine  Siskin 232 

183.  Snow  Bunting 233 

184.  Vesper  Sparrow 234 

185.  Savannah  Sparrow 236 

186.  Grasshopper  Sparrow 237 

187.  Henslow's  Sparrow 238 

188.  Leconte's  Sparrow 239 

189.  Sharp-Tailed  Sparrow 239 

190.  Seaside  Sparrow 240 

191.  Lark  Sparrow 241 

192.  White-Crowned  Sparrow 242 


xxii  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


PAGE 

193.  Chipping  Sparrow 244 

194.  Field  Sparrow 245 

195.  Slate-Colored  Junco 246 

196.  Bachman's  Sparrow 247 

197.  Song  Sparrow 248 

198.  Lincoln's  Sparrow 250 

199.  Stwamp  Sparrow 250 

200.  Towhee 251 

201.  Cardinal 253 

202.  Rose-Breasted  Grosbeak 254 

203.  Blue  Grosbeak 254 

204.  Indigo  Bunting 255 

205.  Scarlet  Tanager 257 

206.  Summer  Tanager 258 

207.  Purple  Martin 259 

208.  Cliff  Swallow 260 

209.  Barn  Swallow 261 

210.  Tree  Swallow 262 

211.  Bank  Swallow 263 

212.  Rough-Winged  Swallow 263 

213.  Cedar  Waxwing 264 

214.  Northern  Shrike 265 

215.  Loggerhead  Shrike 266 

216.  Red-Eyed  Vireo 268 

217.  Yellow-Throated  Vireo 270 

218.  Blue-Headed  Vireo 271 

219.  White-Eyed  Vireo 272 

220.  Black-and-White  Warbler 274 

221.  Swainson's  Warbler . 275 

222.  Worm-Eating  Warbler 276 

223.  Bachman's  Warbler 277 

224.  Blue-Winged  Warbler 278 

225.  Golden-Winged  Warbler 279 

226.  Orange-Crowned  Warbler 280 

227.  Parula  Warbler 282 

228.  Cape  May  Warbler 284 

229.  Myrtle  Warbler 287 

230.  Magnolia  Warbler 288 

231.  Cerulean  Warbler 289 

232.  Chestnut-Sided  Warbler 289 

233.  Bay-Breasted  Warbler 290 

234.  Black-Poll  Warbler 291 

235.  Blackburnian  Warbler 292 

236.  Sycamore  Warbler 293 

237.  Black-Throated  Green  Warbler 294 

238.  Pine  Warbler 295 

239.  Palm  Warbler 296 

240.  Yellow  Palm  Warbler 297 

241.  Prairie  Warbler 298 

242.  Oven-Bird 299 

243.  Water  Thrush 300 

244.  Louisiana  Water-Thrush 301 

245.  Kentucky  Warbler 302 


ILLUSTRATIONS  xxiii 


PAGE 

246.  Connecticut  Warbler 302 

247.  Mourning  Warbler 303 

248.  Maryland  Yellow-Throat 304 

249.  Yellow-Breasted  Chat 305 

250.  Hooded  Warbler 306 

251.  Wilson's  Warbler 307 

252.  Pipit 308 

253.  Mockingbird 310 

254.  Catbird 311 

255.  Brown  Thrasher 312 

256.  Carolina  Wren 313 

257.  Bewick's  Wren 315 

258.  House  Wren 316 

259.  Winter  Wren 316 

260.  Short-Billed  Marsh  Wren 317 

261.  Long-Billed  Marsh  Wren 318 

262.  Brown  Creeper 320 

263.  White-Breasted  Nuthatch 322 

264.  Red-Breasted  Nuthatch 322 

265.  Tufted  Titmouse 324 

266.  Carolina  Chickadee 325 

267.  Golden-Crowned  Kinglet 326 

268.  Ruby-Crowned  Kinglet 327 

269.  Blue-Gray  Gnatcatcher 328 

270.  Wood  Thrush 329 

271.  Veery 330 

272.  Gray-Cheeked  Thrush 331 

273.  Olive-Backed  Thrush 332 

274.  Hermit  Thrush 333 

275.  Bluebird..  .  334 


MAP 

Facing  Page 
Map  of  North  Carolina,  showing  Life  Zones 10 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


BY 

T.  GILBERT  PEARSON,  C.  S.  BRIMLEY  AND  H.  H.  BRIMLEY 


ORNITHOLOGICAL  HISTORICAL  SKETCH 

BY  T.  GILBERT  PEARSON 

The  earliest  record  of  an  ornithological  observationrin  North  Carolina  is  that  of 
Captain  Barlowe,  who  in  company  with  his  associate,  Captain  Amadas,  visited  the 
coast  in  1584.  Entering  the  sounds  by  one  of  the  inlets,  they  sailed  to  Roanoke 
Island  and  landed.  Evidently  they  climbed  one  of  the  tree-covered  dunes  girding 
the  east  side  of  the  island.  Captain  Barlowe  writes:  "Under  the  bank  or  hill 
whereon  we  stood,  we  beheld  valleys  replenished  with  goodly  cedar  trees,  and  having 
discharged  our  harquebus  shot,  such  a  flock  of  cranes  (the  most  part  white)  arose 
under  us,  with  such  a  cry  redoubled  by  many  echoes,  as  if  an  army  of  men  had 
shouted  together."  Visiting  Roanoke  Island  to-day,  one  will  still  see  goodly  cedar 
trees,  but  the  Herons,  which  doubtless  were  the  birds  to  which  he  referred,  are  no 
longer  to  be  found  in  such  numbers.  Three  hundred  and  thirty  years  of  man's 
destructive  influences  have  written  their  story  large  among  the  bird-life  of  that 
interesting  region,  and  the  most  northerly  breeding  colony  of  Herons  known  to 
exist  in  the  State  is  situated  on  an  island  in  Mattamuskeet  Lake,  forty-five  miles 
away  in  a  southwesterly  direction.  The  birds  here  are  so  few  that  their  united 
cries  would  not  equal  the  lusty  shout  of  a  corporal's  guard,  and  none  of  the  white 
varieties  are  to  be  seen. 

Two  years  after  this,  viz.,  in  1586,  Thomas  Hariot  came  to  the  island  and  made 
a  list  of  the  birds  he  found  there.  Of  these  he  says  there  were  "turkey-cocks  and 
turkey-hens,  stock  doves,  partridges,  cranes  and  herons,  and  in  winter  great  store 
of  swan  and  geese.  Of  all  sorts  of  fowl,  I  have  names  in  the  country  language, 
of  four  score  and  six;  of  which  number,  besides  those  that  be  named,  we  have 
taken,  eaten,  and  have  the  pictures  as  they  were  drawn,  with  names  of  the  inhabit- 
ants; of  several  strange  sorts  of  water  fowl  eight,  and  seventeen  kinds  more  of 
land  fowl,  although  we  have  seen  and  eaten  many  more  which  for  want  of  leisure 
there  for  the  purpose  could  not  be  pictured ;  and  after  we  are  better  furnished  and 
stored  upon  further  discovery  with  their  strange  beasts,  fish,  trees,  plants  and  herbs, 
they  shall  be  published.  There  are  also  parrots,  falcons,  and  merlin-baws,  which 
although  with  us  they  be  not  used  for  meat,  yet  for  other  causes  I  thought  good  to 
mention." 

One  of  the  most  interesting  items  in  this  narration  is  the  reference  to  "parrots," 
which  establishes  the  fact  without  doubt  that  the  Carolina  Paroquet  at  one  time 
inhabited  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  coast. 

John  Lawson,  Gentleman,  in  his  History  of  North  Carolina,  published  in  Lon- 
don in  1714,  devotes  fully  ten  pages  to  an  enumeration  of  the  birds  of  the  State, 
and  a  dissertation  on  the  habits  and  activities  of  many  of  them.  Many  of  the 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


birds  that  he  found  here  were  new  to  him;  but  as  evidently  he  was  not  a  trained 
ornithologist,  he  failed  in  many  instances  to  note  the  difference  between  them  and 
species  of  Europe  which  to  his  eye  they  much  resembled.  To  many  of  our  native 
birds,  therefore,  he  gave  the  names  of  English  species,  and,  his  descriptions  being 
meager,  we  are  often  left  in  doubt  as  to  what  birds  he  really  had  in  mind.  Thus 
what  he  calls  "Moorehen"  may  have  been  either  the  Gallinule  or  the  Coot.  His 
"Lap-wing"  was  perhaps  one  of  the  plovers,  the  Golden,  Black-bellied,  Wilson's  or 
Piping,  or  may  possibly  have  been  the  Dowitcher,  Turnstone,  or  Willet. 

Among  the  hawks  he  speaks  of  the  "Hobbie."  I  am  yet  at  a  loss  to  understand 
to  what  species  he  referred,  as  all  the  other  small  hawks  are  evidently  accounted  for 
under  such  English  titles  as  "Falcon,"  "Merlin,"  etc. 

He  made  the  mistake  of  regarding  the  young  Bald  Eagle  as  a  distinct  species, 
and  calls  it  "Gray  Eagle."  This  error,  by  the  way,  was  long  followed  by  subse- 
quent observers  of  North  American  bird  life.  Audubon,  writing  over  a  hundred 
years  later,  tells  in  much  detail  about  the  life  history  of  the  Gray  Eagle;  in  fact, 
he  has  left  us  a  full-page  drawing  of  the  magnificent  "Bird  of  Washington,"  as  he 
called  it.  The  fact  that  the  young  Bald  Eagle  does  not  acquire  its  white  head  and 
tail  until  a  lapse  of  three  years  will  account,  in  a  measure  at  least,  for  its  mistaken 
identity. 

On  the  other  hand,  some  of  Lawson's  statements,  which  bear  on  the  face  evidences 
of  being  perfectly  truthful,  reveal  some  valuable  information.  One  of  these  is  his 
account  of  the  breeding  of  the  Black  Duck  in  the  eastern  marshes,  and  another 
which  tells  of  the  common  occurrence  of  the  Sandhill  Crane.  These  are  the  only 
two  positive  records  we  have  of  this  character  within  the  borders  of  North  Caro- 
lina, for,  so  far  as  known,  no  one  else  has  recorded  cranes  in  the  State;  and  while 
the  Black  Duck  is  a  common  winter  visitor,  and  has  long  been  suspected  of  breed- 
ing here,  we  know  of  no  authoritative  record  of  a  nest  having  been  found  since  this 
account  given  by  Lawson. 

In  the  days  of  Lawson,  Passenger  Pigeons,  which  have  since  become  extinct, 
were  abundant  birds  in  North  Carolina.  They  probably  gathered  to  breed  in  vast 
numbers  in  the  mountains,  after  which  they  spread  over  the  low  country,  and, 
their  numbers  being  augmented  by  great  nights  from  the  north,  the  pigeon  popu- 
lation must  have  been  something  enormous.  Lawson  says :  "I  saw  such  prodigious 
flocks  of  these  pigeons  in  January  and  February,  1701-2  (which  were  in  the  hilly 
country  between  the  great  nation  of  the  Esaw  Indians  and  the  pleasant  stream  of 
Sapona,  which  is  the  west  branch  of  Clarendon,  or  Cape  Fear  River),  that  they 
had  broken  down  the  limbs  of  a  great  many  large  trees  all  over  those  woods,  whereon 
they  chanced  to  sit  and  roost;  especially  the  great  pines,  which  are  more  brittle 
wood  than  our  sorts  of  oak  are.  These  pigeons,  about  sunrise,  when  we  were  pre- 
paring to  march  on  our  journey,  would  fly  by  us  in  such  vast  flocks  that  they  would 
be  near  a  quarter  of  an  hour  before  they  were  all  passed  by;  and  as  soon  as  that 
flock  was  passed,  another  would  come,  and  so  successively  one  after  another  for  a 
greater  part  of  the  morning.  It  is  observable  that  wherever  these  fowl  come  in  such 
large  numbers,  as  I  saw  them  then,  they  clear  all  before  them,  scarce  leaving  one 


ORNITHOLOGICAL  HISTORICAL  SKETCH 


acorn  upon  the  ground,  which  would  doubtless  be  a  great  prejudice  to  the  planters 
that  would  seat  there,  because  their  swine  would  be  thereby  deprived  of  the  mast. 
When  I  saw  such  flocks  of  the  pigeons  I  now  speak  of,  none  of  our  company  had 
any  sort  of  a  shot  than  that  which  is  cast  in  moulds,  and  was  so  very  large  that 
we  could  not  put  above  ten  or  a  dozen  of  them  into  our  largest  pieces.  Wherefore 
we  made  but  an  indifferent  hand  of  shooting  them;  although  we  commonly  killed 
a  pigeon  for  every  shot.  They  were  very  fat  and  as  good  pigeons  as  ever  I  eat." 

While  it  can  hardly  be  claimed  that  the  writings  of  John  Lawson  are  of  any 
great  ornithological  value,  they  are  at  least  interesting  from  an  historical  stand- 
point, and  most  assuredly  should  be  included  in  any  bibliographical  sketch  of  North 
Carolina  ornithology. 

The  work  of  Col.  William  Byrd  of  Westover,  Virginia,  next  may  claim  atten- 
tion. It  was  he  who  conducted  the  survey  of  the  boundary  line  between  Virginia 
and  North  Carolina.  The  narrative  of  his  experiences,  which  we  are  told  was 
written  largely  for  his  own  amusement  and  that  of  his  friends,  contains,  besides 
an  account  of  the  survey,  many  side  remarks  on  the  inhabitants  of  the  territory 
which  he  traversed.  His  references  to  natural  history  are  not  infrequent,  but  are 
for  the  main  part  of  little  moment.  The  following  contribution  is  on  the  habits 
of  a  bird  now  extinct  in  North  Carolina:  "Very  few  in  this  country  have  the 
industry  to  plant  orchards,  which  in  a  dearth  of  rum  might  supply  them  with  much 
better  liquor.  The  truth  is  there  is  one  inconvenience  that  easily  discourages  lazy 
people  from  making  this  improvement.  Very  often  in  autumn  when  the  apples 
begin  to  ripen  they  are  visited  with  numerous  flights  of  paroquets,  that  bite  all  the 
fruit  to  pieces  in  a  moment  for  the  sake  of  the  kernels.  The  havoc  they  make  is 
sometimes  so  great  that  whole  orchards  are  laid  waste  in  spite  of  all  the  noises 
that  can  be  made  or  mawkins  that  can  be  dressed  up  to  frighten  them  away.  These 
ravenous  birds  visit  North  Carolina  only  during  the  warm  season,  and  so  soon  as 
the  cold  begins  to  come  on,  retire  back  towards  the  sun.  They  rarely  venture  so 
far  north  as  Virginia,  except  in  a  very  hot  summer,  when  they  visit  the  most 
southern  parts  of  it.  They  are  very  beautiful,  but,  like  some  other  pretty  creatures, 
are  apt  to  be  loud  and  mischievous."  He  does  not  attempt  to  catalogue  the  birds  of 
the  country. 

The  title  of  Mark  Catesby's  work,  The  Natural  History  of  Carolina,  Florida 
and  the  Bahama  Islands,  published  in  1731,  would  lead  one  to  anticipate  finding 
within  its  covers  some  reference  to  North  Carolina  birds.  A  careful  reading  of 
its  pages,  however,  reveals  the  fact  that  the  author  in  all  probability  was  never 
within  what  is  now  the  territory  of  North  Carolina.  He  went  up  the  Savannah 
River  almost  to  the  mountains,  and  hunted  buffalo  with  the  Indians;  later  he  sailed 
for  Virginia,  and,  ascending  the  James  River,  traveled  thence  westward  to  a  point 
almost  north  of  that  reached  on  his  trip  from  Savannah.  There  seems  to  be  no 
evidence  that  he  ever  saw  the  intervening  territory.  This  is  to  be  regretted,  as 
Catesby  was  not  only  an  artist  of  merit,  but  for  the  times  must  have  been  a  very 
careful  and  painstaking  naturalist. 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Dr.  John  Brickell  published  in  Dublin,  in  1737,  a  book  bearing  a  comprehensive 
title  as  follows:  "The  Natural  History  of  North  Carolina,  with  an  account  of  the 
trade,  manners,  and  customs  of  the  Christian  and  Indian  inhabitants;  illustrated 
with  copperplates,  whereon  are  curiously  engraved  the  map  of  the  country,  several 
strange  beasts,  birds,  fishes,  snakes,  insects,  trees,  and  plants,  etc." 

His  list  of  birds  follows  closely  that  of  Lawson,  published  some  years  previously, 
and  the  similarity  of  the  text  in  many  instances  strongly  suggests  the  idea  that  he 
frequently  bordered  closely  on  plagiarism. 

He  enumerates  128  kinds  of  birds.  Five  of  these,  at  least,  we  must  eliminate  at 
the  start.  He  makes  three  eagles  out  of  one,  naming,  as  he  does,  in  addition  to  the 
Bald  Eagle,  the  Black  Eagle  and  Gray  Eagle,  which  were  simply  different  phases 
of  the  immature  bird.  We,  of  course,  cannot  accept  two  species  of  leather-winged 
bats  as  birds,  and  the  nightingale,  which  he  mentions,  is  not  found  in  a  wild  state 
in  the  Western  Hemisphere. 

Although  Dr.  Brickell,  in  his  Preface,  says,  regarding  his  natural  history,  "I 
have  been  very  exact,"  the  reader  is  not  always  so  impressed.  Of  the  Brown  Peli- 
cans he  says:  "They  have  an  odd  kind  of  note,  much  like  the  braying  of  an  ass, 
and  in  spring  they  go  into  the  woods  to  breed,  and  return  in  the  autumn,"  whereas 
it  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  Pelican  is  an  absolutely  silent  bird,  and  in  the 
United  States  breeds  on  or  near  the  ocean  beaches  or  on  mangrove  keys  of  the  Gulf 
Coast.  Of  the  Cuckoo  he  writes :  "In  winter  they  hide  themselves  in  hollow  trees, 
and  their  feathers  come  off,  and  they  are  scabby;  they  usually  lay  one  egg,  and 
that  in  the  nest  of  the  Hedge  Sparrow." 

This  statement  reminds  one  of  the  story  of  the  naturalist  Cuvier,  to  whom  a  stu- 
dent stated  that  a  lobster  was  a  red  fish  which  runs  backward.  Cuvier  is  reported 
to  have  replied :  "You  are  right  in  all  but  three  things,  viz. :  It  is  not  red,  it  is  not 
a  fish,  and  does  not  run  backward."  The  Carolina  Cuckoos  do  not  hide  in  hollow 
trees;  they  do  not  lose  all  their  feathers  at  once  and  become  scabby;  they  lay  not 
one,  but  from  two  to  four  eggs,  in  a  nest  of  their  own  construction;  and,  finally, 
the  Hedge  Sparrow  is  not  found  in  America. 

In  writing  of  the  Gray  Eagles,  he  discusses  at  length  their  interesting  character- 
istics of  form  and  movements.  In  part  he  says :  ' '  They  are  great  thieves,  and  live 
to  be  very  old,  and  die  not  from  age  nor  any  sickness,  but  of  mere  hunger  by 
reason  that  the  upper  beak  of  their  bill  is  so  far  overgrown  and  turneth  inward  so 
much  that  they  are  not  able  to  open  it  to  feed  themselves.  They  seldom  seek  their 
prey  in  the  forenoon,  for  they  are  found  sitting  idle  and  perched  upon  trees  all  the 
morning.  It  is  reported  that  the  quills  or  feathers  of  eagles,  if  laid  amongst  those 
of  other  fowls,  will  rot  and  consume  them,  which  I  have  not  faith  to  believe.  The 
flesh,  though  scarce  fit  to  be  eaten,  is  medicinal  against  the  gout;  the  bones  of  the 
skull  in  powder  are  good  against  megrim;  the  brain,  drank  in  wine,  helps  the 
jaundice,  and  the  gall  is  of  excellent  use  in  most  disorders  of  the  eye,  and  applied 
helps  the  bitings  of  serpents  and  scorpions." 

Delicious  as  Brickell's  natural-history  sketches  are,  it  is  probable  that  he  acquired 
much  of  his  material  from  the  Indians  and  settlers,  and  has  woven  into  his  narra- 


ORNITHOLOGICAL  HISTORICAL  SKETCH 


tive  many  of  the  traditions  and  superstitions  of  the  times.  Positive  statements  as 
to  what  he  actually  saw  seldom  appear;  one  of  these  is  when,  in  speaking  of  the 
smallness  of  the  Hummingbird,  he  remarks:  "I  have  frequently  seen  butterflies 
chase  them  away  from  the  flowers." 

Another  of  those  early  gentlemen  who  traveled  through  the  South  and  left  his 
writings  for  the  benefit  of  posterity  was  William  Bartram,  in  1791.  His  book  is 
entitled  Travels  Through  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Florida,  etc.  It  seems, 
however,  that  he  made  but  one  hasty  trip  through  North  Carolina.  He  traveled 
by  land,  and,  entering  the  State  in  Brunswick  County,  proceeded  to  Southport, 
passed  from  there  up  the  Clarendon  (Cape  Fear)  River  to  Campbelltown  (now 
Fayetteville),  and  thence  on  to  Virginia.  He  speaks  briefly  of  the  trees,  soil,  and 
rocks,  but  makes  no  reference  to  the  wild  animal  life.  Some  of  his  stories  are 
very  highly  colored.  He  speaks  of  the  alligators  of  South  Carolina  rushing  at 
him  with  terrible  roarings,  and  states  that  the  steam  issuing  from  their  mouths 
and  nostrils  threw  over  him  a  "hurricane"  of  water.  In  reading  his  writings  one 
is  inclined  to  believe  that  had  he  lived  to-day  some  persons  might  have  classed  him 
as  a  "nature  faker." 

Passing  now  from  this  short  sketch  regarding  the  early  explorers  and  natural- 
history  observers,  whose  writings  excite  in  the  modern  ornithologist  more  interest 
than  credibility,  we  may  consider  briefly  the  work  of  modern  bird  students. 

Apparently  the  first  real  ornithologist  to  visit  North  Carolina  for  the  purpose  of 
studying  the  birds  was  Alexander  Wilson,  a  Scotchman  who  traveled  through  the 
country  collecting  birds  and  making  drawings  of  them  by  day,  and  playing  the 
flute  for  profit  or  diversion  at  night.  Wilson  was  a  field  naturalist  of  the  first 
order,  and  his  far-famed  work,  American  Ornithology,  illustrated  with  his  own 
most  creditable  drawings  in  colors,  has  well  won  for  him  the  title  of  "Father  of 
American  Ornithology,"  despite  the  fact  that  his  work  was  eclipsed  some  years 
later  by  the  stupendous  undertaking  of  John  James  Audubon.  As  an  ornithologist 
Audubon  was  Wilson's  superior  only  in  that  he  was  a  more  skillful  artist.  As  a 
man,  Wilson  was  of  humble  parentage,  but  indifferently  educated,  was  poor,  retir- 
ing, sensitive,  and  self-effacing.  Audubon  was  of  excellent  parentage,  was  highly 
educated,  was  always  confident,  and  at  times  self-assertive.  Both  were  great  con- 
tributors to  the  world's  knowledge  of  American  birds,  and  it  was  their  work  which 
aroused  real  interest  in  the  subject  and  put  in  motion  the  movement  for  bird  study 
from  which  has  since  developed  a  long  line  of  brilliant  American  ornithologists. 

On  one  of  Wilson's  trips  through  North  Carolina,  he  found  a  specimen  of  the 
largest  woodpecker  of  all  eastern  North  America,  the  Ivory  billed.  The  bird  has 
probably  been  extinct  for  a  long  time  in  this  State.  Another  point  of  interest 
attending  this  capture  by  Wilson  is  that  there  is  no  recorded  instance  of  one  ever 
having  been  taken  farther  north  in  eastern  America.  His  record  is  therefore  inter- 
esting and  unique.  He  says: 

"The  first  place  I  observed  this  bird  at,  when  on  my  way  to  the  south,  was  about 
12  miles  north  of  Wilmington,  in  North  Carolina.  There  I  found  the  bird  from 
which  the  drawing  of  the  figure  in  the  plate  was  taken.  This  bird  was  only  wounded 


BIKDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


slightly  in  the  wing,  and,  on  being  caught,  uttered  a  loudly  reiterated  and  most 
piteous  note,  exactly  resembling  the  violent  crying  of  a  young  child;  which  terrified 
my  horse  so  as  nearly  to  have  cost  me  my  life.  It  was  distressing  to  hear  it.  I 
carried  it  with  me  in  the  chair,  under  cover,  to  Wilmington.  In  passing  through 
the  streets  its  affecting  cries  surprised  every  one  within  hearing,  particularly  the 
females,  who  hurried  to  the  doors  and  windows  with  looks  of  alarm  and  anxiety. 
I  drove  on,  and  on  arriving  at  the  piazza  of  the  hotel,  where  I  intended  to  put  up, 
the  landlord  came  forward,  and  a  number  of  other  persons  who  happened  to  be 
there,  all  equally  alarmed  at  what  they  heard;  this  was  greatly  increased  by  my 
asking  whether  he  could  furnish  me  with  accommodations  for  myself  and  my  baby. 
The  man  looked  blank  and  foolish,  while  the  others  stared  with  still  greater  astonish- 
ment. After  diverting  myself  for  a  minute  or  two  at  their  expense,  I  drew  my 
woodpecker  from  under  the  cover,  and  a  general  laugh  took  place.  I  took  him 
upstairs  and  locked  him  up  in  my  room,  while  I  went  to  see  my  horse  taken  care 
of.  In  less  than  an  hour  I  returned,  and,  on  opening  the  door,  he  set  up  the  same 
distressing  shout,  which  now  appeared  to  proceed  from  grief  that  he  had  been  dis- 
covered in  his  attempts  to  escape.  He  had  mounted  along  the  side  of  the  window, 
nearly  as  high  as  the  ceiling,  a  little  below  which  he  had  begun  to  break  through. 
The  bed  was  covered  with  large  pieces  of  plaster;  the  lath  was  exposed  for  at  least 
15  inches  square,  and  a  hole,  large  enough  to  admit  the  fist,  opened  to  the  weather- 
boards; so  that,  in  less  than  another  hour  he  would  certainly  have  succeeded  in 
making  his  way  through.  I  now  tied  a  string  round  his  leg,  and  fastening  it  to 
the  table,  again  left  him.  I  wished  to  preserve  his  life,  and  had  gone  off  in  search 
of  suitable  food  for  him.  As  I  reascended  the  stairs,  I  heard  him  again  hard  at 
work,  and  on  entering  had  the  mortification  to  perceive  that  he  had  almost  entirely 
ruined  the  mahogany  table  to  which  he  was  fastened,  and  on  which  he  had  wreaked 
his  whole  vengeance.  While  engaged  in  taking  the  drawing,  he  cut  me  severely  in 
several  places,  and,  on  the  whole,  displayed  such  a  noble  and  unconquerable  spirit 
that  I  was  frequently  tempted  to  restore  him  to  his  native  wildness.  He  lived  with 
me  nearly  three  days,  but  refused  all  sustenance,  and  I  witnessed  his  death  with 
regret." 

RECENT  ORNITHOLOGICAL  WORK 

What  we  may  term  recent  ornithological  research  began  in  North  Carolina  in 
1871,  when  Dr.  Elliott  Coues  published  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Academy  of  Natu- 
ral Sciences,  of  Philadelphia  (vol.  xxiii),  a  series  of  notes  on  the  birds  observed  by 
him  while  stationed  at  Fort  Macon  in  Carteret  County.  One  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  species  of  birds  are  here  mentioned. 

In  1886  Mr.  William  Brewster  of  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  studied  in  the 
mountains  of  western  North  Carolina,  and  his  list  of  birds,  published  in  The  Auk, 
contains  records  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  species.  The  preceding  winter  Charles 
Batchelder,  also  of  Cambridge,  made  a  number  of  observations  on  the  winter  bird 
life  of  the  mountains,  and  these  likewise  were  published  in  The  Auk;  one  of  the 
discoveries  made  by  Mr.  Brewster  was  the  Carolina  Snowbird  (Junco  hyemalis 
caroliniensis) .  J.  S.  Cairns,  an  enthusiastic  student  of  birds,  living  at  Weaver- 


ORNITHOLOGICAL  HISTOBICAL  SKETCH 


ville,  published  the  results  of  his  observations  in  The  Ornithologist  and  Oologist 
in  1887.  He  enumerated  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  varieties  of  birds  in  Bun- 
combe County.  It  was  he  who  first  discovered  the  Cairns's  Warbler. 

Messrs.  H.  H.  and  C.  S.  Brimley,  of  Raleigh,  were  for  many  years  engaged  in 
collecting  birds  for  scientific  purposes.  During  this  time,  and  since,  they  have 
gathered  much  valuable  information  on  the  nesting  and  migration  habits  of  the 
birds  which  occur  there  and  elsewhere  in  the  State.  Between  1884  and  1891  they 
published  in  The  Ornithologist  and  Oologist  seventy-six  articles  on  Raleigh  bird 
life. 

Mr.  R.  B.  McLaughlin  of  Statesville,  during  1887-1888,  contributed  nine  articles 
to  the  same  publication  on  the  birds  of  the  Statesville  region. 

Dr.  Louis  B.  Bishop  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  for  several  years  was  a  frequent 
visitor  to  Pea  Island,  in  Dare  County,  and  many  of  his  observations  have  been  pub- 
lished from  time  to  time  in  The  Auk. 

My  studies  on  North  Carolina  ornithology  and  oology  extended  over  the  period 
of  my  residence  in  the  State,  from  1891  to  1912.  Such  papers  and  lists  of  birds  as 
were  published  by  me  are  enumerated  in  the  Bibliography,  and  are  based  on  my 
observations  at  Guilford  College  and  Greensboro  in  Guilford  County,  at  Chapel 
Hill  in  Orange  County,  and  from  notes  made  during  various  trips  taken  throughout 
the  State. 

Additional  papers  on  the  bird  life  of  North  Carolina  by  various  authors  have 
been  published;  principally  in  The  Auk,  Bird-Lore,  and  The  Ornithologist  and 
Oologist.  An  enumeration  of  the  various  publications  containing  matters  in  refer- 
ence to  North  Carolina  ornithology  will  be  found  in  the  bibliographical  appendix 
to  this  volume. 

THE  STATE  AUDUBON  SOCIETY 

The  Audubon  Society  of  North  Carolina,  for  the  study  and  protection  of  wild 
birds  and  animals,  was  organized  in  the  chapel  of  the  State  Normal  and  Industrial 
College  at  Greensboro,  March  11,  1902.  Abundant  evidence  existed  to  show  that 
there  was  most  urgent  need  for  such  an  organization  in  the  State. 

Practically  no  attention  was  being  given  by  the  State  and  County  authorities  to 
the  enforcement  of  the  woefully  few  and  insufficient  bird-protective  measures  that 
existed.  In  some  sections  there  were  no  laws  prescribing  closed  seasons  for  Quail, 
Wild  Turkey,  or  Deer.  There  was  scarcely  the  faintest  shadow  of  a  statute  extend- 
ing protection  to  any  song  birds,  to  birds  of  bright  plumage,  or  to  those  species 
which  are  so  valuable  as  destroyers  of  insects  injurious  to  crops. 

It  was  illegal  to  ship  Quail  from  the  State,  it  is  true;  nevertheless,  scores  of 
hunters  engaged  in  the  profitable  business  of  buying  and  openly  shipping  these 
birds  to  markets  outside  of  the  State;  but  if  ever  a  single  one  of  these  offenders  had 
been  arrested  and  fined  we  were  never  able  to  locate  any  record  of  such  a  proceed- 
ing. 

Hunters  to  the  number  of  at  least  3,000  poured  into  the  State  from  the  North 
each  winter,  paid  the  State  no  license  fee  for  hunting,  killed  as  many  Quail  and 
other  birds  as  they  chose,  and,  departing,  took  with  them  what  spoils  they  desired. 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


There  exists  much  indisputable  testimony  that  during  those  dark  days  men  often 
filled  trunks  and  boxes  with  thousands  of  Quail  and,  taking  them  to  Northern  mar- 
kets, reaped  a  golden  harvest  for  their  industry.  Pot-hunters  trapped  and  netted 
at  will,  and  sold  their  catch  at  the  neighboring  stores. 

In  many  places  men  and  boys  gathered  on  summer  evenings  to  shoot  Nighthawks 
(Bullbats) ,  often  for  no  other  apparent  purpose  than  for  the  mere  pleasure  of  see- 
ing them  fall.  These  birds  are  usually  particularly  abundant  about  a  village 
infested  with  mosquitoes,  on  which  they  greedily  feed,  so  our  citizens  were  following 
the  short-sighted  policy  of  wantonly  killing  one  of  our  most  useful  friends.  Men 
who  had  no  interest  in  the  welfare  of  our  State,  other  than  the  money  which  they 
could  make  by  destroying  our  bird  life,  came  from  New  York  and  New  England, 
eagerly  slaughtered  our  shore  birds  in  untold  numbers,  and,  packing  their  bodies 
in  barrels  of  ice,  shipped  them  to  Northern  markets. 

In  our  eastern  sounds,  gulls  and  many  species  of  beautiful  terns  have  long  assem- 
bled in  summer  to  lay  their  eggs  and  rear  their  young  on  the  small  islands  and 
sandy  beaches  of  that  district.  Thither  went  the  plume  hunters,  and  season  after 
season  butchered  these  exquisite  creatures  to  get  the  wings  for  the  New  York 
millinery  trade.  They  always  chose  the  time  of  year  when  the  birds  were  collected 
on  their  rookeries,  well  knowing  that  at  that  time  they  are  easy  to  approach. 
Countless  thousands  of  young,  being  thus  deprived  of  parental  support,  were  left 
helpless,  to  die  of  starvation. 

Beginning  about  1882,  this  barbaric  war  of  extermination  was  continued  each 
summer  until  May  1,  1903,  when  the  first  Audubon  game  warden  on  Pamlico  Sound 
received  his  appointment. 

This  outlines  very  briefly  conditions  relative  to  bird  killing  in  North  Carolina 
when  the  State  Audubon  Society  was  formed.  That  appalling  conditions  had  been 
allowed  to  continue  unrebuked  was  due  in  part  to  the  ignorance  of  the  general 
public  as  to  what  was  going  on,  and  more  particularly  was  it  due  to  apathy  on  the 
part  of  our  general  population.  After  all,  they  said,  these  creatures  were  nothing 
but  birds,  and  if  any  one  gained  pleasure  or  profit  by  killing  them,  all  well  and 
good. 

Those  of  us,  therefore,  who  were  interested  in  the  formation  of  the  Audubon 
Society  had  certain  definite  things  in  mind  which  we  sought  to  see  accomplished. 
These  were: 

First.  The  enactment  of  a  law  which  would  make  it  absolutely  illegal  to  kill  any 
useful  species  of  bird  in  North  Carolina  which  was  not  classed  as  a  game  bird. 

Second.  To  secure  laws  providing  reasonable  closed  seasons  for  all  game  birds 
and  game  animals  in  the  counties  where  no  laws  of  this  character  then  existed. 

Third.  To  require  every  nonresident  hunter  to  pay  to  the  State  $10  for  a  shoot- 
ing license. 

Fourth.  To  provide  for  a  system  of  State  wardens  to  enforce  these  and  other 
game  laws. 

Fifth.  To  give  the  Audubon  Society  official  recognition  in  its  work  of  seeking 
to  cultivate  public  sentiment  to  a  better  appreciation  of  the  value  of  conserving  the 
wild  life  of  the  State. 


ORNITHOLOGICAL  HISTORICAL  SKETCH 


On  March  6,  1903,  the  Legislature  enacted  a  law  which  not  only  contained  these 
provisions,  but  many  others,  notable  among  which  was  one  that  delegated  and 
empowered  the  State  Audubon  Society  to  select  game  wardens  throughout  the  State 
to  carry  into  execution  the  various  bird  and  game  protective  statutes. 

During  the  year  which  followed,  the  Society  was  much  engaged  in  effecting  the 
organization  of  this  work  throughout  the  State.  Copies  of  the  Audubon  law  were 
printed  in  pamphlet  form  and  widely  distributed.  Digests  of  the  game  laws  were 
printed  on  cloth  and  nailed  to  8,000  trees  and  buildings  along  the  public  highways 
of  the  State.  Accurate  and  carefully  prepared  literature  of  the  value  of  birds  was 
published  and  given  wide  circulation.  In  all,  76,069  copies  of  printed  information 
of  this  character  were  distributed  from  the  office  at  Greensboro.  In  addition,  500 
books  discussing  the  habits  and  activities  of  wild  birds  were  circulated  in  the  schools 
and  elsewhere.  Twenty-nine  State  game  wardens  were  employed.  These  spent 
their  time  largely  in  going  among  the  people  and  pushing  the  campaign  of  general 
education  on  the  subject  of  the  value  of  birds  to  the  State.  They  also  did  work  of 
a  sterner  character.  Twenty-two  shipments  of  Grouse  and  Quail,  which  were  being 
smuggled  to  northern  markets,  were  seized,  and  thirty-one  successful  prosecutions 
for  violations  of  the  game  laws  were  conducted  in  the  courts. 

During  the  years  that  followed,  the  same  line  of  work  was  continued  with 
increasing  scope  and  efficiency.  In  1905,  45  wardens  were  employed,  and  in  spite 
of  great  indifference,  and  in  many  instances  a  most  bitter  opposition,  66  game-law 
violators  were  convicted  of  crime.  In  1906  there  were  44  wardens  and  84  convic- 
tions; in  1907,  62  wardens  and  68  convictions;  in  1908,  79  wardens  and  245  convic- 
tions; in  1909,  100  wardens  and  163  convictions. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  these  men  were  not  working  on  salaries,  but 
served  largely  for  the  love  of  the  cause.  With  few  exceptions,  it  was  impossible  to 
pay  them  more  than  small  fees,  or  a  per  diem  for  the  time  actually  employed  in 
conducting  specific  work  under  the  direction  of  the  secretary.  The  resources  of 
the  Society  have  never  been  sufficient  to  do  otherwise.  All  money  collected  by  fines 
goes,  by  law,  to  the  school  fund,  so  the  Society  has  had  to  depend  entirely  upon  the 
support  of  people  who  are  enough  interested  in  its  work  to  give  it  their  support 
and  the  funds  raised  by  the  sale  of  licenses  that  are  bought  by  nonresident  hunters. 
The  financial  assistance  of  the  members  has  been  generous,  and  more  than  sufficient 
to  pay  the  expenses  and  moderate  salary  of  the  executive  officer,  so  that  none  of 
the  license  fund  has  been  used  for  that  purpose. 

The  State  of  North  Carolina  has  never  appropriated  any  funds  for  the  support 
of  this  work;  hence  it  may  be  seen  that  whatever  has  been  accomplished  by  the 
Audubon  Society  of  North  Carolina,  in  the  enforcement  of  the  law,  in  the  securing 
of  more  adequate  statutes,  or  in  the  cultivating  of  public  sentiment,  has  been  done 
without  the  taxpayer,  or  the  resident  hunter,  or  in  fact  any  North  Carolinian,  ever 
having  been  required  to  contribute  a  cent  to  the  work. 

Much  remains  to  be  done  in  the  line  of  bird-law  and  game-law  enforcement  in 
the  State.  It  is  well  known  among  game  protectors  throughout  the  United  States 
that  North  Carolina  has  fallen  sadly  behind  most  other  States  in  the  matter  of 


10  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


game  protection  in  recent  years,  and  that  by  so  doing  she  is  jeopardizing  her  future 
bird  life,  which  indeed  means  the  giving  of  hostages  to  fortune. 

In  bringing  these  remarks  to  a  close,  we  wish  to  express  our  profound  appre- 
ciation for  the  splendid  services  rendered  to  the  cause  of  wild-life  protection  in 
North  Carolina  by  Dr.  R.  H.  Lewis,  who,  as  president  of  the  State  Audubon 
Society  from  1903  until  the  present  time,  has  always  given  the  various  phases  of 
the  Audubon  work  his  most  carefully  considered  advice  and  support,  and  without 
whose  encouragement  and  cooperation  this  book  could  not  have  been  prepared  and 
offered  for  publication  to  the  State  Geological  and  Economic  Survey. 

LIFE  ZONES  AND  BIRD  DISTRIBUTION 

BY  0.  S.  BRIMLEY 

The  natural  distribution  of  wild  animal  life  as  it  appears  on  the  globe  is  pri- 
marily dependent  on  climatic  conditions.  After  extended  studies  in  this  interesting 
field  of  research,  well  recognized  areas,  known  technically  as  "regions,"  "zones," 
and  "faunas,"  have  been  described  by  scientists  as  being  inhabited  each  by  its 
characteristic  life.  Without  attempting  even  to  outline  the  data  upon  which  these 
divisions  have  been  based,  we  will  merely  name  the  four  life  zones  represented  in 
North  Carolina,  and  call  attention  to  some  of  the  species  of  birds  by  which  they 
are  inhabited.  (For  further  study  of  the  general  aspects  of  this  subject,  students 
are  referred  to  the  writings  of  Merriam,  Bailey,  and  Nelson,  published  by  the 
Biological  Survey  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture.) 

In  North  Carolina  the  Canadian  Zone  occupies  only  the  tops  of  the  higher 
mountains;  the  Alleghanian  or  Transition  includes  those  portions  of  the  mountain 
region  between  2,500  and  4,500  feet  of  elevation;  the  Carolinian  or  Upper  Austral 
covers  the  central  region  of  the  State  and  the  lower  mountain  valleys;  and  the 
Lower  Austral  or  Austro-riparian  extends  over  the  eastern  and  southeastern  por- 
tions of  the  State.  Each  of  these  life  zones  is  characterized  by  the  presence  of  cer- 
tain birds  during  the  breeding  season,  as  well  as  by  characteristic  mammals,  reptiles, 
and  amphibians. 

The  Canadian  Zone.  This  is  the  most  northern  of  the  life  zones  that  enter 
North  Carolina,  where  it  occupies  only  the  tops  of  the  higher  mountains,  above 
4,000  or  4,500  feet  elevation.  The  following  are  birds  which  in  the  breeding  season 
are  found  in  this  zone  and  not  elsewhere  in  the  State :  Golden-crowned  Kinglet,  Red- 
breasted  Nuthatch,  Black-capped  Chickadee,  Brown  Creeper,  Winter  Wren,  Pine 
Siskin,  Crossbill,  Raven,  Hairy  Woodpecker,  Downy  Woodpecker,  and  Golden 
Eagle.  The  Carolina  Junco  is  found  in  this  zone  and  also  in  higher  portions  of 
the  Alleghanian. 

The  Alleghanian  or  Transition  Zone  includes  that  portion  of  the  mountain 
region  below  4,000  or  4,500  feet  and  above  about  2,500  feet  elevation.  The  prin- 
cipal characteristic  breeding  birds  in  this  region  are  as  follows:  Wilson's  Thrush, 
Bewick's  Wren,  Cairns's  Warbler,  Black-throated  Green  Warbler,  Chestnut-sided 
Warbler,  Blackburnian  Warbler,  Golden-winged  Warbler,  Canadian  Warbler, 


> 
o 

% 

o 

i 

a 

O 

> 

I 

? 

Cfi 

§ 


LIFE  ZONES  AND  BIRD  DISTRIBUTION  11 


Warbling  Vireo,  Scarlet  Tanager,  Song  Sparrow,  Vesper  Sparrow,  Baltimore  Oriole, 
Rose-breasted  Grosbeak,  Least  Flycatcher,  Olive-sided  Flycatcher,  Yellow-bellied 
Sapsucker,  and  Ruffed  Grouse. 

The  following  birds  enter  the  Alleghanian  Zone  from  the  Carolinian,  but  do  not 
extend  beyond  it  into  the  Canadian:  Carolina  Wren,  Carolina  Chickadee,  Worm- 
eating  Warbler,  Kentucky  Warbler,  Louisiana  Water-thrush,  Hooded  Warbler, 
Southern  Downy  Woodpecker,  and  Southern  Hairy  Woodpecker. 

The  Carolinian  or  Upper  Austral  Zone.  This  zone  occupies  the  mountain 
valleys  below  about  2,500  feet  of  elevation,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  central  region 
of  the  State,  its  eastern  and  southeastern  limit  being  roughly  a  line  drawn  from 
Weldon  to  Raleigh,  thence  to  Charlotte  and  on  to  Tryon  in  Polk  County. 

The  birds  that  enter  this  zone  from  the  Lower  Austral,  but  do  not  extend  beyond 
it  into  the  Alleghanian,  are:  Brown-headed  Nuthatch,  Mockingbird,  Yellow- 
throated  Warbler,  Pine  Warbler,  Prairie  Warbler,  Summer  Tanager,  Bachman's 
Sparrow,  Blue  Grosbeak,  Orchard  Oriole,  and  Black  Vulture. 

The  following  birds  do  not  range  below  it  into  the  Lower  Austral,  though  they 
do  range  upward  into  the  Alleghanian:  Yellow  Warbler,  Redstart,  Goldfinch,  and 
Whip-poor-will. 

Lower  Austral  or  Austro -riparian  Zone  is  perhaps  the  most  sharply  dis- 
tinguished of  the  zones  in  this  State,  and  as  regards  birds  it  divides  naturally  into  a 
coastal  strip  and  an  inland  portion.  Its  upper  limit  is  formed  by  the  lower  boun- 
dary of  the  Upper  Austral  denned  above.  Few  land  birds  occur  in  the  whole  of 
this  region  that  do  not  also  enter  the  Carolinian  Zone  above,  several  birds  usually 
considered  as  typically  Lower  Austral,  such  as  the  Bachman's  Sparrow,  Blue 
Grosbeak,  Brown-headed  Nuthatch,  Black  Vulture,  and  Yellow-throated  Warbler, 
ranging  in  this  State  also  throughout  the  Carolinian  Zone.  The  most  characteristic 
land  birds  of  this  zone  are  the  Chuck-wills-widow,  Nonpareil,  Swainson's  Warbler, 
Prothonotary  Warbler,  and  Red-cockaded  Woodpecker. 

Typical  aquatic  and  salt-marsh  summer  birds  that  characterize  the  coastal  region 
of  this  zone  are  Marian's  Marsh  Wren,  Boat-tailed  Grackle,  Fish  Crow,  Osprey, 
Oystercatcher,  Piping  Plover,  Willet,  Clapper  Rail,  Louisiana  Heron,  Egret,  Snowy 
Egret,  Little  Blue  Heron,  Water  Turkey,  Florida  Cormorant,  and  Black  Skimmer. 

In  general,  these  life  zones  correspond  to  a  considerable  extent  with  the  natural 
divisions  of  the  State,  the  Lower  Austral  covering  the  coastal  plain  and  the  pine 
barrens,  the  upper  Austral  the  Piedmont  plateau,  and  the  Alleghanian  and  Cana- 
dian the  mountain  regions. 

There  are  no  sharply  marked  divisions  between  these  zones;  they  gradually  pass 
into  one  another  and,  similarly,  the  birds  named  as  being  characteristic  of  them 
are  by  no  means  all  equally  so;  for  instance,  the  Nonpareil  is  confined  to  the 
southeastern  corner  of  the  State  and  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  ocean. 
A  noticeable  peculiarity  in  reference  to  the  distribution  of  a  few  species  is  that, 
probably  owing  to  the  humidity  of  the  coastal  region,  they  are  found  breeding  near 
the  coast,  and  also  in  the  mountains,  but  not  in  the  intervening  territory.  Examples 
of  these  are  the  Black-throated  Green  Warbler,  Song  Sparrow,  and  Barn  Swallow. 


12  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Seasonal  Distribution.  As  every  one  who  observes  birds  closely  is  aware, 
many  forms  do  not  occur  in  a  given  locality  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  For  con- 
venience, therefore,  it  is  usual  to  group  birds  as  residents,  summer  visitors,  winter 
visitors,  transients,  and  stragglers. 

As  residents,  reference  is  made  to  those  birds  which  are  found  throughout  the 
year,  familiar  examples  in  most  parts  of  the  State  being  the  Turkey  Vulture,  Caro- 
lina Wren,  English  Sparrow,  and  Mourning  Dove.  We  should  bear  in  mind,  how- 
ever, that  resident  birds  may  be  resident  as  to  species,  yet  not  as  to  individuals. 
The  Robins,  for  example,  which  are  with  us  in  winter,  leave  in  spring  for  their 
summer  homes  farther  north,  and  their  places  are  taken  by  breeding  birds  which 
have  wintered  south  of  the  State. 

Summer  visitors  occur  only  in  summer,  the  term  being  confined  mainly  to  birds 
which  rear  their  young  in  the  State- — as,  for  example,  the  Catbird,  Kingbird,  and 
Purple  Martin — but  depart  in  autumn. 

The  name  winter  visitor  applies  to  birds  which  come  to  this  State  to  dwell  during 
the  colder  months.  Common  examples  are  the  White-throated  Sparrow,  Marsh 
Hawk,  Junco,  and  many  kinds  of  ducks. 

Transients  are  strictly  birds  of  passage,  and  appear  only  in  spring  or  fall.  Most 
of  them  appear  at  both  seasons,  but  a  few  are  found  only  in  spring  and  others 
exclusively  in  autumn.  Many  which  are  transient  in  the  central  or  eastern  portion 
of  the  State  are  summer  visitors  in  the  mountains.  Among  these  are  the  Scarlet 
Tanager,  Baltimore  Oriole,  and  various  warblers. 

A  straggler  is  a  bird  which  has  wandered  from  its  usual  home.  Among  such  as 
have  been  recorded  in  the  following  pages  will  be  found  the  Man-o'-war  Bird,  White 
Ibis  and  Ani. 

The  student  should  bear  in  mind,  therefore,  that  the  bird  population  of  any  given 
territory  is  constantly  changing;  in  fact,  a  little  field  work  will  reveal  to  an  observer 
the  interesting  fact  that  in  no  two  months  of  the  year  is  the  bird  life  of  a  region 
quite  the  same. 


EXPLANATION  OF  KEYS  AND  DESCRIPTIONS  13 


EXPLANATION  OF  KEYS   AND  DESCRIPTIONS 


The  artificial  keys  to  the  orders,  families,  genera,  and  species  given  in  the  follow- 
ing pages  are  for  North  Carolina  birds  only,  and  apply  principally  to  adult  males, 
the  females  and  immature  birds  being  included  only  when  the  distinguishing  charac- 
teristics of  size  and  color  sufficiently  approach  those  of  the  male  to  render  this 
possible.  Furthermore,  when  a  marked  change  of  plumage  occurs  during  the  year 
the  appearance  of  the  bird  in  the  spring,  or  breeding  season,  is  the  one  to  which 
reference  is  made.  A  series  of  keys  sufficient  to  take  account  of  the  various  plumages 
which  different  species  assume  throughout  the  year  would  be  so  voluminous  and 
intricate  as  to  be  of  little  real  service  to  the  student.  In  practice,  however,  it  will 
be  found  of  little  difficulty  to  determine  the  order  and  family  to  which  any  bird 
belongs;  in  fact,  many  females  which  are  very  dissimilar  to  the  male  may  be  traced 
to  their  respective  genera,  after  which  a  little  examination  of  the  careful  description 
given  under  the  specific  names  will  soon  render  identification  complete  and  satis- 
factory. 

To  the  student  who  has  had  little  or  no  experience  in  the  use  of  keys  of  this 
character,  the  following  explanation  of  their  use  may  be  of  assistance. 

Take,  for  example,  the  key  to  the  genera  of  the  swallow  family,  which  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

1.  Color  of  upperparts  brown.     See  2. 

1.  Color  of  upperparts  more  or  less  blue  or  blue-green.     See  3. 

2.  Outer  web  of  outer  primary  with  stiff  recurved  hooks.     Stelgidopteryx. 

2.  Outer  web  of  primary  without  recurved  hooks.     Riparia. 

3.  Tail  forked  for  more  than  half  its  length.     Hirundo. 

3.  Tail  not  forked  for  more  than  half  its  length.     See  4. 

4.  Length  more  than  7  inches.     Progne. 

4.  Length  less  than  7  inches.     See  5. 

5.  Throat  white.     Iridoprocne. 

5.  Throat  chestnut.     Petrochelidon. 

Suppose,  now,  we  have  a  specimen  of  the  common  Purple  Martin,  and  wish  to 
identify  it  by  the  key.  We  look  at  the  two  branches  of  "1,"  and  the  color  being 
more  or  less  blue,  and  not  brown,  it  falls  under  the  second  branch,  which  refers  to 
"3."  As  the  tail  is  only  slightly  forked,  it  falls  under  the  second  division  of  "3," 
which  refers  us  to  "4,"  and,  the  length  being  over  7  inches,  it  comes  under  the  first 
division  of  "4,"  which  tells  us  that  the  genus  should  be  Progne.  We  then  turn  over 
to  where  the  genus  Progne  is  mentioned,  and  find  that  only  one  species  of  the  genus 
Progne,  namely,  the  Purple  Martin  (Progne  subis),  occurs  in  the  State;  hence  this 
must  be  our  bird. 

If  we  had  a  Barn  Swallow,  it  would  "key"  down  the  same  way  until  we  reached 
"3,"  where  the  deeply  forked  tail  would  put  it  in  the  first  division  of  "3"  and  indi- 
cate that  it  belonged  to  Hirundo.  A  Rough-winged  Swallow,  on  the  other  hand, 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


would,  by  its  brown  color,  fall  under  the  first  division  of  "I,"  which  would  refer  us 
to  "2,"  where  the  rough  edge  of  the  outermost  wing  quill  would  put  it  in  the  first 
section  and  tell  us  it  belonged  to  Stelgidopteryx. 

Following  the  description  of  each  species,  the  range  or  territory  over  which  it 
occurs  is  given  in  all  cases.  Usually,  however,  reference  is  made  only  to  the  terri- 
tory it  occupies  in  eastern  North  America,  for  we  should  bear  in  mind  that  some 
birds  are  as  common  perhaps  in  Europe  or  Asia  as  in  America.  For  our  purposes, 
however,  it  has  not  been  thought  necessary  to  go  into  an  exhaustive  enumeration 
of  all  the  foreign  countries  in  which  each  particular  North  Carolina  species  is  found. 

Measurements. — In  the  description  of  the  birds  given  in  this  volume  the  word 
"length"  (L.)  refers  to  the  distance  from  the  tip  of  the  bill  to  the  tip  of  tail.  "Length 
of  wing"  (W.)  has  reference  to  the  distance  from  the  last  bend  of  the  wing  to  the 
tip  of  the  longest  wing-feather.  The  meaning  of  the  other  measurements  will  be 
apparent  to  the  student. 


1, 

EUP 

Upper  mandible 

6. 

Nape 

14.  Bend  of  wing; 

(of  bill) 

7. 

Lore 

lesser  coverts 

2, 

Lower  mandible 

8. 

Superorbitus 

15.  Median  coverts 

3. 

Forehead 

9. 

Auricular  feathers 

16.  Bastard  wing 

4 

.  Crown 

(ear) 

(alula) 

6, 

Occiput 

10. 

Chin 

17.  Greater  coverts 

11. 

Throat 

18.  Primary  coverts 

-. 

12. 

Lower  throat 

19.  Scapulars 

X 

"•--?•? 

V 

(jugulum) 

20.  Secondary  wing 

\\ 

13. 

Side  of  neck 

quills 

21.  Primary  wing- 

""*-*. 

^o\ 

quills  (remiges) 

C^\v- 

•*3 

22.  Back 

J 

^^\  xr 

*~\ 

23.  Rump 

^ 

RS-N, 

X 

24.  Upper  tail-coverts 

30.  Under  tail-coverts 

31.  Tarsus  (shank) 

32.  Inner  (Hd)  toe 

33.  Middle  (Hid)  toe 

34.  Outer  (IVth)  toe 

35.  Hind  (1st)  toe 


25.  Tail-quills 

(retrices) 

26.  Breast 

27.  Abdomen  (belly) 

28.  Leg  (tibia  and  fibula) 

29.  Vent  (anal  region) 

TOPOGRAPHY  or  A  BIRD. 
KEY  TO  THE  ORDERS 

1.  Swimmers.     Feet  palmate  (full-webbed),  or  lobate;  in  the  latter  case  with  the 

claws  broad,  flat,  and  nail-like.     See  2. 
1.  Feet  not  palmate  (except  in  a  few  waders  with  very  long  legs),  and  never  with 

the  claws  broad,  flat,  or  nail-like.     See  6. 


EXPLANATION  OF  KEYS  AND  DESCRIPTIONS  15 


2.  Hind  toe  connected  by  web  with  the  inner  one  of  the  front  toes,  the  front  toes 
also  well  webbed.     Steganopodes — Gannets,  Cormorants,  Pelicans,  etc. 

2.  Hind  toe  not  connected  with  the  front  ones  by  web.     See  3. 

3.  Bill  lamellate,  its  cutting  edges  fringed  or  serrated.    Anseres — Ducks,  Geese, 

and  Swans. 

3.  Bill  not  lamellate.     See  4. 

4.  Legs  inserted  far  behind  middle  of  the  body,  which  in  a  standing  position  is 

nearly  upright.     Pygopodes — Grebes,  Loons,  and  Auks. 

4.  Legs  inserted  about  the  middle  of  the  body,  which  in  standing  position  is  nearly 

horizontal.     See  5. 

5.  Nostrils  tubular.     Tubinares — Albatrosses,  Petrels,  and  Fulmars. 

5.  Nostrils  not  tubular.     Longipennes — Jaegers,  Gulls,  and  Terns. 

6.  Waders.     Tibia  more  or  less  naked  below,  the  tarsus  more  or  less  elongate. 

See  7. 

6.  Land  Birds.     Tibia  usually  entirely  feathered,  tarsus  of  moderate  length. 

See  9. 

7.  Hind  toe  well  developed,  and  usually  inserted  on  same  level  as  rest;  the  loral 

or  orbital  regions,  or  both,  sometimes  the  whole  head,  bare  of  feathers. 
Herodiones— Herons,  Storks,  and  Ibises. 

7.  Hind  toe,  if  present,  small  and  inserted  above  level  of  rest;  or,  if  not,  length  of 

bird  less  than  36  inches.     Loral  and  orbital  regions  feathered,  and  middle 
claw  not  pectinate.     See  8. 

8.  Length  of  bird  24  inches  or  less;  hind  toe,  if  present,  short  and  elevated.    Limi- 

colce — Phalaropes,  Snipes,  and  Plovers. 

8.  If  length  of  bird  is  less  than  36  inches,  the  hind  toe  is  inserted  on  same  level 

as  the  rest;  if  over  36  inches  in  length,  the  hind  toe  is  short  and  elevated. 
Paludicoloe — Cranes,  Rails,  and  Gallinules. 

9.  Bill  strongly  hooked,  with  a  distinct  cere  at  base.     See  10. 

9.  Bill  not  strongly  hooked,  or,  if  so,  without  a  naked  cere  at  base  of  upper  man- 
dible.    See  11. 

10.  Toes  three  in  front,  one  behind,  the  outer  toe  sometimes  reversible.     Raptores — 
Vultures,  Hawks,  and  Owls. 

10.  Toes  two  in  front,  two  behind.     Psittaci — Parrots. 

11.  Hind  toe  short,  decidedly  elevated;  toes  webbed  at  base;  no  soft  skin  about 

nostrils.     Gallince — Turkeys,  Grouse,  and  Bob-whites. 

11.  Hind  toe  on  about  the  same  level  as  rest.     See  12. 

12.  Nostrils  opening  beneath  a  soft,  swollen,  cere-like  membrane.     Hind  claw  short. 

Columbce — Pigeons  and  Doves. 

12.  Nostrils  not  opening  beneath  a  swollen  membrane  or  cere.     See  13. 

13.  Tail  feathers  stiff  and  pointed;  bill  chisel-like  and  front  toes  two  only.     Pici — 

Woodpeckers. 

13.  Not  with  the  preceding  combination  of  characters.     See  14. 

14.  Toes  two  in  front,  or  else  outer  and  middle  toes  connected  for  half  their  length. 

Gape  not  deep.     Tail-feathers  soft.     Coccyges — Cuckoos,  Kingfishers,  etc. 


16 


14.  Toes  not  as  in  preceding  group.     See  15. 

15.  Hind  claw  not  longer  than  the  others;  wings  very  long  and  gape  very  wide  and 

deep;  or  else  secondaries  only  six,  and  bill  very  long  and  slender.  Tail- 
feathers  ten.  Machrochires — Goatsuckers,  Swifts,  and  Hummingbirds. 
15.  Hind  claw  at  least  as  long  as  the  others;  secondaries  more  than  six,  tail-feathers 
12.  Passeres — Perching  Birds:  Flycatchers,  Blackbirds,  Jays,  Orioles, 
Sparrows,  Finches,  Swallows,  Vireos,  Warblers,  Wrens,  Thrushes,  and  most 
other  song-birds. 


A  DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 

OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA  BIRDS 


I.  ORDER  PYGOPODES.  DIVING  BIRDS 

This  order  contains  three  families  of  strictly  aquatic  birds.  They  possess  the 
peculiarity  of  having  the  legs  set  unusually  far  back,  so  that  those  species  which 
are  able  to  walk  can  do  so  only  with  the  body  in  an  upright  position. 

KEY  TO  FAMILIES 

1.  Stiff    tail-feathers    wanting;    front    toes    lobed,    and    nails   broad    and    flat.     The    Grebes 
(Colymbidce). 

1.  Tail-feathers  present. 

2.  Hind  toe  present.     The  Loons  (Gaviidce). 
2.  Hind  toe  absent.     The  Auks  (Altidce). 

1.    FAMILY  COLYMB I D/E.     GREBES 

Of  the  six  species  of  grebes  in  North  America,  three  are  found  in  North  Caro- 
lina. They  frequent  both  salt  and  fresh  water  areas.  All  are  wonderful  divers, 
and  their  stout  lobe-footed  legs  serve  them  well  in  their  submarine  flights.  With 
marvelous  quickness  they  dive  at  the  flash  of  the  fowler's  gun,  often  escaping  injury 
by  this  means.  Their  food  is  composed  of  a  wide  variety  of  animal  forms  which 
the  birds  procure  by  swimming  under  water.  The  thick  satiny  feathers  of  the 
breast  and  sides  of  certain  species  have  been  much  used  for  millinery  purposes. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Bill  slender,  straight,  rather  acute,  its  length  more  than  twice  its  depth  at  base.     Colymbus. 
1.  Bill  stout,  somewhat  hooked;  length  not  twice  its  greatest  depth.     Podilymbus. 

Genus  Colymbus  (Linn.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Bill  as  long  as  head.     Wing  more  than  7  inches.     Holbcell's  Grebe. 

1.  Bill  much  shorter  than  head.     Wing  less  than  6  inches.     Horned  Grebe. 

1.  Colymbus  holboellii  (Reinh.).    HOLBCELL'S  GREBE. 

Description:  Ads.*  in  summer. — Top  of  head,  small  crest,  and  back  of  neck,  glossy  black; 
back  blackish;  throat  and  sides  of  head  silvery  white;  front  and  sides  of  neck  rufous,  changing 
gradually  over  breast  into  silvery  white  belly;  sides  tinged  with  rufous.  Ads.  in  winter. — 
Upperparts  blackish  brown;  throat  and  underparts  whitish;  front  and  sides  of  neck  pale 
rufous.  Im. — Upperparts  blackish;  throat  and  underparts  silvery  white;  neck  and  sides 
grayish.  L.,  19.00;  W.,  7.50;  Tar.,  2.20;  B.,  1.90.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 


*In  the  technical  descriptions  the  following  abbreviations  are  used:     Ads.,  adults;   Im.,   immature;   L.,  length 
(see  page  21);  W.,  wing;  T.,  tail;  Tar.,  tarsus;  B.,  bill.     Measurements  are  in  inches  and  hundredths  of  an  inch. 


18  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Range. — North  America  and  Eastern  Asia;  breeding  from  the  extreme  northern  United  States 
northward;  winters  from  Maine  to  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter;  occasionally  inland. 

Holboell's  Grebe  is  a  winter  resident  as  far  south  as  South  Carolina.  It  is  most 
commonly  met  with  along  the  coast,  although  it  is  said  to  occur  inland  sometimes 
during  the  spring  migration.  When  alarmed  it  frequently  swims  with  the  body  sub- 
merged. It  may  readily  be  distinguished  from  the  loons  by  its  smaller  size,  except 
in  the  case  of  the  Red-throated  Loon,  from  which  it  can  be  told  in  flight  by  the  con- 
spicuous white  patch  on  the  wings.  Fishermen  report  that  these  birds  are  fre- 
quently caught  in  shad  nets  in  the  Neuse  River  below  New  Bern.  Specimens  were 
exhibited  in  the  flesh  at  the  New  Bern  Fair  in  1892  and  1893  (H.  H.  Brimley). 
Other  records  of  its  occurrence  are  those  of  Coues  at  Fort  Macon  in  1871,  and  at 
Chapel  Hill,  where  one  was  taken  by  J.  J.  Dunlap  in  1877. 


FIG.  1.     HOLBCELL'S  GREBE.     Winter  Plumage. 

Two  specimens  in  the  flesh,  both  males,  were  received  at  the  State  Museum  on 
March  12,  1912.  They  were  sent  by  Jesse  Benjamin  Etheridge  of  Manteo,  Dare 
County,  who  writes  under  date  of  March  9:  "They  were  taken  from  a  pound  net 
to-day  near  Roanoke  Island.  They  are  very  rare  in  this  section." 

2.  Colymbus  auritus  (Linn.}.    HORNED  GREBE. 

Description:  Ads.  in  summer. — 'Top  of  head,  hindneck,  and  throat,  glossy  blackish;  lores 
pale  chestnut;  stripe,  and  plumes  behind  eye,  buffy  ochraceous,  deeper  posteriorly;  back  and 
wings  blackish;  secondaries  white;  foreneck,  upper  breast  and  sides  chestnut;  lower  breast  and 
belly  white.  Ads.  in  winter  and  Im. — Upperparts  grayish  black;  underparts  silvery  white, 
sometimes  washed  with  grayish  on  the  throat  and  breast;  white  of  cheeks  nearly  meeting  on 
hindneck.  L.,  13.50;  W.,  5.40;  Tar.,  1.75;  B.,  .90. 

Remarks. — Differs  from  P.  podiceps.  in  more  pointed  bill,  more  white  in  wing,  and  in  winter 
has  no  brown  below.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  part  of  Northern  Hemisphere;  breeds  from  northern  tier  of  States  north- 
ward; winters  from  Maine  to  Florida. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter,  common.     Occasionally  inland. 

These  interesting  birds  are  abundant  winter  residents  in  the  bays  and  sounds  of 
our  southern  coast.  They  feed  often  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  shore,  and, 
while  not  associating  regularly  in  flocks,  as  many  as  several  hundred  may  some- 
times be  counted  within  sight  at  one  time.  When  not  distrubed,  they  readily 
become  tame  and  will  approach  within  a  few  feet  of  a  boat  at  anchor  or  pass  be- 


to 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  19 


neath  the  pier  on  which  one  may  be  standing.  This  bird  is  often  called  Water 
Witch.  During  April  and  May,  Horned  Grebes  are  also  found  on  bodies  of  fresh 
water  where  they  have  paused  for  food  and  rest  while  journeying  to  their  breeding 
grounds.  Records  of  their  occurrence  inland  are:  Asheville,  1891  (Cairns); 
Greensboro,  April,  1902,  and  Mecklenburg  County,  November  1, 1908  (Pearson). 

Genus  Podilymbus  (Less.) 
3.  Podilymbus  podiceps  (Linn.).    PIED-BILLED  GREBE. 

Description:  Ads.'in  summer. — Upperparts  glossy,  brownish  black;  throat  black;  upper  breast, 
front  and  sides  of  neck,  and  sides  of  body,  washed  with  brownish  and  indistinctly  mottled  with 
blackish;  lower  breast  and  belly  white;  a  black  band  across  bill.  Ads.  in  winter  and  Im. — Much 
like  the  above,  but  throat  white  and  no  black  band  on  bill.  L.,  13.50;  W.  5.10;  Tar.,  1.45; 
B.,  .85.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 


FIG.  2.     PIED-BILLED  GREBE. 

Range. — North  and  South  America,  breeding  throughout  its  range,  but  often  rare  or  local. 
Winters  from  Virginia  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State,  probably  at  all  seasons  in  suitable  situations;  known 
to  breed  at  Lake  Ellis  in  Craven  County. 

Our  data  regarding  the  occurrence  of  the  Pied-billed  Grebe,  commonly  known  as 
the  Didapper,  or  Hell-diver,  are  rather  meager,  but  are  sufficient  to  warrant  the 
conclusion  that  it  is  likely  to  appear  in  any  part  of  the  State  at  any  season  of  the 
year. 

As  with  all  grebes,  the  wings  of  this  bird  are  remarkably  small  for  the  weight 
they  have  to  carry.  Seldom  does  it  resort  to  flight  when  alarmed.  At  times  it 
will  sink  slowly  beneath  the  surface  until  only  the  bill  is  visible;  again,  springing 
forward,  it  will  dive  with  astonishing  quickness.  On  such  occasions  it  often  swims 
for  a  considerable  distance  until  the  necessity  for  air  drives  it  to  the  surface.  Owing 
to  the  position  of  the  legs,  placed  almost  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  body,  walking 
becomes  a  laborious  task,  and  is  an  exercise  in  which  the  bird  rarely  indulges. 
Specimens  have  been  recorded  from  Raleigh,  Lake  Ellis,  White  Lake,  Chapel  Hill, 
Guilford  College,  Weaverville,  Highlands,  and  Greensboro.  H.  H.  Brimley  saw 
three  on  Lake  Ellis,  in  Craven  County,  early  in  June,  1905,  and  Pearson  repeatedly 
heard  its  call  issuing  from  the  reeds  and  lily-pads  on  that  lake  in  June,  1898.  On 
June  18,  1909,  H.  H.  Brimley,  Bowdish,  and  others  of  their  party  found  on  Lake 
Ellis  three  Grebes'  nests  that  contained  eggs;  five  eggs  were  found  in  two  of  these, 
and  six  in  the  third.  Other  nests,  but  no  eggs,  were  found  on  the  same  waters  in 
May,  1911. 


20  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  nest  is  a  mass  of  reeds  and  water-soaked  decaying  vegetable  matter,  usually 
floating  and  attached  to  growing  reeds.  The  eggs  number  from  four  to  eight,  and 
are  dull  white,  and  usually  much  soiled.  Size  about  1.75  x  1.20. 

2.    FAMILY  GAVIID>E.      LOONS 

The  family  of  loons  is  represented  in  our  territory  by  one  genus,  Gavia,  com- 
posed of  two  species,  which  are  quite  the  equal  of  the  grebes  in  the  matter  of  swim- 
ming and  diving.  They  rarely  visit  the  land  except  for  the  purpose  of  nidification  ; 
in  fact,  they  are  almost  helpless  when  on  shore,  and  move  with  the  greatest  diffi- 
culty. Their  food  consists  largely  of  fish,  which  they  procure  by  diving  and  pur- 
suing under  water. 

Genus  Gavia  (J.  R.  Forst.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

Two  species  occur  within  the  State,  which  may  be  distinguished  as  follows : 

1.  Wing  13  inches  or  more.     Loon. 

1.  Wing  11.5  inches  or  less.     Red-throated  Loon. 

4.  Gavia  immer  (Brunn.}.    LOON. 

Description:  Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts,  wings,  tail,  and  neck  black  with  bluish  or 
greenish  reflections;  spaces  on  the  throat  and  sides  of  neck  streaked  with  white;  back  and 
wings  spotted  and  barred  with  white;  breast  and  belly  white;  sides  and  a  band  at  base  of  under 
tail-coverts  black  spotted  with  white.  Ads.  in  winter  and  Im. — Upperparts,  wings,  and  tail 
blackish  margined  with  grayish,  not  spotted  with  white;  underparts  white:  throat  sometimes 
washed  with  grayish.  L.,  32.00;  W.,  14.00;  Tar.,  3.40;  B.,  2.80.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  part  of  Northern  Hemisphere,  breeding  in  America  from  northern 
United  States  northward,  wintering  from  southern  New  England  to  Florida. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter;  occasional  inland. 

"The  Loon,  or  Great  Northern  Diver,  is  a  large,  heavy  bird  with  long  stout  neck 
and  strong  sharp  beak.  In  bulk  it  is  the  equal  of  a  fair-sized  goose  (Fig.  3),  and 
many  specimens  are  fully  three  feet  long.  On  land  it  is  almost  helpless,  and  in  fact 
appears  incapable  of  rising  except  from  a  large  sheet  of  water,  along  the  surface 
of  which  it  can  patter  a  distance  before  finally  swinging  clear.  In  the  spring  and 
summer  plumage  the  white-fluted  collar,  with  its  upright  lines  of  black  spots,  forms 
a  beautiful  and  conspicuous  part  of  its  attire. 

"The  summer  home  of  the  Loon  is  on  the  clear  northern  lakes.  In  winter  it  is 
common  along  the  southern  coast,  and  wherever  found  its  presence  is  known  to  the 
inhabitants — War  Loon,  the  fishermen  often  call  it.  Although  striking  in  appear- 
ance, it  would  hardly  have  won  its  place  in  poetry  and  legend  but  for  its  cry,  which 
is  one  of  the  wildest  notes  in  all  nature.  Loud  and  far-reaching,  it  comes  ringing 
across  the  water  to  one's  ears  with  startling  effect.  There  is,  too,  a  quality  of 
unspeakable  sadness  in  the  notes,  suggestive  of  heart-breaking  anguish. 

"While  the  writer  was  lying  at  anchor  on  the  great  Pamlico  Sound  in  a  heavy 
fog  early  one  morning,  a  Loon  suddenly  emerged  from  the  water  but  a  few  rods 
distant.  His  figure,  distended  by  the  fog,  seemed  immense.  Surprised  by  the 
proximity  of  the  silent,  phantom-like  vessel,  the  bird,  ere  it  plunged  again  into  the 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  21 


deep,  burst  into  a  prolonged  shout  like  a  peal  of  coarse,  profane  laughter.  The 
effect  was  most  startling,  and  although  the  bird  is  exceedingly  sagacious  in  avoid- 
ing its  enemies,  the  observer  might  well  feel  that,  judging  from  its  cry,  this  weird 
creature  is  in  reality  a  maniac. 

"Loons  are  often  killed  for  food.  Many  are  annually  shot  from  the  dunes  near 
Cape  Lookout,  as  they  pass  northward  in  the  spring.  This  bird  is  a  common  winter 
resident  in  Pamlico  Sound,  and  along  the  coast  generally,  except  in  Albemarle 


FIG.  3.     COMMON  LOON;  GREAT  NORTHERN  DIVER  (Spring  Plumage). 

Sound,  where,  possibly,  the  black  character  of  the  water  interferes  with  its  vision 
while  diving.  Sometimes  the  Loon  is  driven  to  earth  far  inland  by  stress  of  weather. 
On  such  occasions  it  seems  unable  to  rise,  and  is  easily  captured.  The  following 
records  have  been  made  of  its  occurrence  inland:  Harnett  County,  December  9, 
1896;  Raleigh,  April  13,  1897,  and  November  17,  1897;  Guilford  College,  April, 
1896;  and  Greensboro,  April  19,  1900. — PEARSON. 

5.  Gavia  stellata  (Pont.}.    RED-THROATED  LOON. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Back,  wings,  and  tail  fuscous,  more  or  less  spotted  with  white;  head  and 
neck  ashy  gray;  foreneck  chestnut;  back  of  neck  black,  streaked  with  white;  breast  and  belly 
white;  longer  under  tail-coverts  and  band  at  the  base  of  shorter  ones  fuscous.  Ads.  in  winter, 
and  Im. — Similar  to  G.  Immer,  but  back  spotted  with  white.  L.,  25.00;  W.,  11.00;  Tar..  2.60; 
B.,  2.00.  (Chap.,  Jiirds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  part  of  Northern  Hemisphere,  breeding  mainly  in  the  Arctic  regions; 
winters  from  Main  •  to  Florida 

Range  in  North  <  arolina. — (  oasta  1  region  in  winter. 


22  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Red-throated  Loon  occurs  on  the  Atlantic  coast  locally  in  autumn,  winter, 
and  spring  as  far  south  as  South  Carolina.  Although  the  average  specimen  (Fig. 
4)  is  decidedly  smaller  than  is  the  Common  Loon,  the  birds  are  not  readily  dis- 
tinguished at  a  distance  while  in  their  winter  plumage. 


FIG.  4.      RED-THROATED  LOON  (Spring  Plumage). 

H.  H.  Brimley  reported  this  one  as  common  on  Neuse  River  in  January,  1885. 
Two  specimens  were  procured  at  New  Bern  in  March,  1892,  by  Pearson.  Bishop 
secured  one  at  Pea  Island,  March  3,  1907.  Adickes  found  the  species  common  at 
Cape  Lookout  in  February,  1909,  at  which  time  he  collected  several  specimens. 

3.    FAMILY  ALC I D>C.      AUKS,  MURRES,  AND  PUFFINS 

About  thirty  species  are  represented  in  this  family.  They  are  all  birds  of  the 
northern  regions,  and  pass  their  time  on  the  sea  except  when  they  gather,  often  in 
great  numbers,  to  rear  their  young  upon  the  cliffs  of  rocky  islands.  They  secure 
their  food  of  fish,  Crustacea,  and  other  aquatic  animal-life,  from  the  ocean,  employ- 
ing both  wings  and  feet  to  aid  them  in  their  submarine  journeys.  Stragglers 
representing  three  genera,  each  with  a  single  species,  have  been  taken  on  our  coast. 

These  three  genera,  together  with  two  others,  members  of  which  may  be  found 
to  occur  in  the  State,  may  be  distinguished  by  the  following  characteristics : 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Inner  claw  much  larger  and  more  curved  than  the. others;  corners  of  mouth  with  a  rosette 
of  thick  naked  skin;  bill  greatly  compressed,  almost  as  deep  as  long.     Fratercula. 

1.  Inner  claw  similar  in  size  and  form  to  the  others;  no  rosette  at  corner  of  mouth.     See  2. 

2.  Bill  very  short  and  broad,  the  angle  of  chin  nearer  to  tip  of  bill  than  to  nostril;  culmen 

curved.     A  lie. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  23 


2.  Bill  not  very  short,  the  angle  of  chin  much  nearer  to  nostril  than  to  tip  of  bill.     See  3. 

3.  Nostril  exposed,  overhung  by  a  horny  scale.     Cepphus. 

3.  Nostril  more  or  less  completely  concealed  by  dense  velvety  feathers.     See  4. 

4.  Bill  narrow;  tail  rounded,  the  feathers  not  pointed.     Uria. 

4.  Bill  very  deep,  much  compressed,  one  or  both  mandibles  grooved  in  adult.     Tail  gradu- 

ated, its  feathers  pointed.     Alca. 

One  species  of  the  genus  Fratercula,  the  Puffin,  F.  artica  (Linn.),  is  known  to  wander  as  far 
south  as  Delaware  Bay,  and  hence  is  mentioned  here.  It  may  be  known  by  the  high  bill, 
decorated  by  transverse  ridges. 

One  species  of  the  genus  Cepphus,  the  Black  Guillemot,  C.  grylle  (Linn.),  sometimes  appears 
in  New  Jersey  in  winter.  It  has  pure  white  underparts,  varied  above  with  black.  The  black 
wings  have  each  a  large  white  patch,  and  the  greater  wing-coverts  are  black  for  at  least  their 
basal  half.  It  may  possibly  be  found  off  our  shores  in  severe  winters. 

Genus  Uria  (Briss.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

One  species  of  this  genus  has  been  taken  as  a  straggler  on  our  coast,  and  another 
seems  just  as  likely  to  occur.  The  two  may  be  distinguished  as  follows: 

1.  Depth  of  bill  at  angle  of  mouth  less  than  %  culmen.  Basal  portion  of  cutting  edge  of 
upper  mandible  always  dusky  or  similar  in  color  to  rest  of  mandible.  Murre. 

1.  Depth  of  bill  at  angle  more  than  %  culmen.  Basal  portion  of  cutting  edge  of  upper  man- 
dible thickened  and  conspicuously  light  colored  in  adult.  Briinnich's  Murre. 

6.  Uria  lomvia  lomvia  (Linn.).    BRUNNICH'S  MURRE. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts,  wings,  and  tail  sooty  black;  foreneck  somewhat  browner; 
tips  of  secondaries,  breast  and  belly  white;  base  of  upper  mandible  greenish,  rounded  outward 
beyond  edge  of  lower  mandible.  L.,  16.50;  W.,  8.40;  Tar.,  1.30;  B.,  1.25;  depth  of  B.  at 
nostril  .47. 

Remarks. — Adults  are  to  be  distinguished  from  adults  of  U.  t.  troile  by  the  darker  color  of 
the  head,  which  in  lomvia  is  darker  than  the  throat,  by  the  size  of  the  bill  and  thickening  of 
its  cutting  edge  at  the  base.  Winter  and  immature  birds  can  be  distinguished  from  those  of 
U.  t.  troile  only  by  the  size  of  the  bill,  which,  as  the  measurements  show,  is  longer  in  that 
species.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  on  the  coasts  and  islands  of  the  North  Atlantic  from  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence 
northward.  Casually  in  winter  to  South  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Two  specimens  taken  on  the  coast  in  winter. 

This  is  a  bird  of  the  open  northern  seas,  and  its  occurrence  in  the  South  must  be 
considered  very  rare.  Pearson  procured  one  in  the  flesh  at  New  Bern,  Craven 
County,  which  was  said  to  have  been  killed  on  Neuse  River,  December  22  or  23, 
1896.  The  mounted  skin  is  preserved  in  the  museum  at  Guilford  College.  William 

5.  Post,  of  New  York,  writes  that  he  received  one  in  the  flesh  from  Currituck  Sound, 
January  3,  1901. 

Genus  Alca  (Linn.) 

7.  Alca  torda  (Linn.).     RAZOR-BILLED  AUK. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts,  wings  and  tail  sooty  black;  foreneck  somewhat  browner;  tips 
of  secondaries,  a  line  from  eye  to  bill,  breast,  and  belly  white;  bill  black,  crossed  by  a  white 
band.  Ads.  in  winter. — Similar,  but  with  sides  and  front  of  neck  white.  Im. — Similar  to 
adult  in  winter,  but  with  bill  smaller  and  without  white  bar.  L.,  16.50;  W.,  7.90;  Tar.,  1.35; 
B.,  1.25.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  Atlantic,  breeds  from  Greenland  to  New  Brunswick,  winters  from  the  latter 
place  to  Long  Island  and  casually  to  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Taken  in  winter  of  1890  off  Cape  Lookout. 


24 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


A  razor-billed  Auk  was  taken  at  Cape  Lookout,  North  Carolina,  by  Lieutenant 
Foley,  U.  S.  N.,  February  15, 1890  (Auk,  1890,  vol.  7,  p.  189,  Merriam).  Two  other 
specimens  were  killed  about  the  same  date  by  Augustine  Finer,  a  taxidermist  at 
Morehead,  and  for  years  remained  unidentified  in  his  collection.  They  were  dis- 
covered and  purchased  by  Pearson  in  July,  1898.  (Auk,  1899,  vol.  16,  p.  242.) 

Genus  Alle  (Linn.) 
8.  Alle  alle  (Linn.}.     DOVEKIE. 


FIG.  5.     DOVEKIE. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts,  wings  and  tail  sooty  black;  sides  and  front  of  neck  and  upper 
breast  somewhat  browner;  secondaries  tipped  and  scapulars  streaked  with  white;  lower  breast 
and  belly  white.  Ads.  in  winter,  and  Im. — Similar,  but  throat  whiter  or  washed  with  dusky 
and  sometimes  a  gray  collar  on  nape.  L.,  8.00;  W.,  4.50;  Tar.,  .70;  B.,  .50.  (Chap.,  Birds 
of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  Atlantic,  breeding  in  the  arctic  regions;  it  winters  from  Greenland  to  Long 
Island,  and  casually  to  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  rarely  in  winter. 

The  Dovekie  lives  well  out  at  sea  and  is  seldom  seen  near  land  except  when  blown 
in  by  severe  gales.  There  are  but  few  records  of  its  occurrence  in  North  Carolina. 
One  taken  in  Currituck  Sound  in  1901  or  1902  is  preserved  in  the  collection  of  the 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  25 


Narrows  Island  Shooting  Club.  On  December  31,  1902,  Pearson  found  a  live 
specimen  lying  helpless  on  the  beach  near  the  surf  31  miles  north  of  Cape  Hatteras. 
It  had  recently  lost  one  of  its  feet,  perhaps  by  the  bite  of  some  fish.  It  was  much 
emaciated,  and  died  within  a  few  hours.  The  mounted  skin  is  now  in  the  museum 
of  the  State  Normal  and  Industrial  College  at  Greensboro.  A  live  male  was  found 
on  the  beach  at  Pea  Island  by  J.  B.  Etheridge,  January  11,  1905.  (Bishop.)  A 
fourth  record  is  from  Currituck  Sound,  where  a  live  male  was  picked  up  on  the 
beach  near  the  Currituck  Shooting  Club,  January  20,  1905,  and  sent  in  the  flesh  to 
J.  E.  Thayer  (Auk,  July,  1905,  p.  289).  Early  in  the  year  1909  several  were  noted 
at  Beaufort;  two  of  these,  taken  on  February  1,  were  secured  by  J.  E.  Thayer.  Two 
others,  killed  February  15  and  24  respectively,  were  received  in  the  flesh  by  Pear- 
son, who  forwarded  them  to  the  State  Museum.  Later  reports,  substantiated  by 
specimens,  showed  them  to  have  been  quite  common  in  the  region  of  Cape  Lookout 
that  winter.  Flocks  were  seen  and  numbers  of  the  birds  in  helpless  condition  were 
washed  ashore  in  the  bight  of  the  Cape. 

II.  ORDER  LONGIPENNES.     LONG-WINGED  SWIMMERS 

These  are  water  birds  possessing  great  power  of  flight.  They  are  chiefly  mari- 
time, except  when  nesting.  Unlike  the  ducks  and  diving  birds,  which  sit  low  in  the 
water,  birds  of  this  order  ride  lightly  on  the  waves.  Three  families  are  represented 
in  North  Carolina. 

KEY  TO  FAMILIES 

1.  Lower  mandible  much  longer  than  upper,  almost  the  entire  length  of  both  being  compressed 
like  a  knife  blade.     Skimmers  (Rynchopidce) . 

1.  Lower  mandible  not  longer  than  upper,  nor  especially  compressed.     See  2. 

2.  Covering  of  upper  mandible  consisting  of  a  hook  at  tip,  a  cere  overhanging  the  nostrils, 

and  lateral  pieces.     Jaegers  (Stercorariidce) . 
2.  Covering  of  bill  in  a  single  piece,  pierced  by  the  nostrils.     Gulls  and  Terns.     (Laridce). 

4.    FAMILY  STERCORARIID/E.     JAEGERS  AND  SKUAS 

This  family  comprises  gull-like  birds,  with  the  bill  hooked,  and  with  a  cere  or 
covering  of  naked  skin  at  the  base.  The  lower  part  of  the  tibia  is  naked,  and  the 
middle  tail-feathers  project  beyond  the  others. 

Representatives  of  two  genera  occur  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  North  America,  but 
only  one  has  been  noted  in  North  Carolina. 

Genus  Stercorarius  (Briss.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Culmen  about  1J^  inches  or  more,  wing  usually  more  than  13^,  lengthened  tail-feathers, 
broad  and  rounded  at  ends.     Pomarine  Jaeger. 

1.  Culmen  less  than   !}/£  inches,   wing  less  than   13J/2,  lengthened  tail-feathers  narrow  and 

pointed  at  ends.     See  2. 

2.  Tarsus  black,  like  feet;  middle  tail-feathers  in  adult  projecting  about  4  inches.     Parasitic 

Jaeger. 

2.  Tarsus  light  bluish,  feet  black,  middle  tail-feathers  in  adult  projecting  8  or  10  inches.     Long- 
tailed  Jaeger. 


26  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


9.  Stercorarius  parasiticus  (Linn.).    PARASITIC  JAEGER. 

Ads.  light  phase. — Back,  wings,  and  tail  slaty  fuscous;  top  of  head  and  lores  nearly  black; 
sides  of  head  and  back  of  neck  straw-yellow,  this  color  sometimes  spreading  down  sides  of 
neck  and  on  throat;  breast  and  belly  white;  sides  of  breast,  flanks,  lower  belly,  and  crissum 
slaty  fuscous;  tarsi  a,nd  feet  (in  dried  specimens)  black;  middle  tail-feathers  pointed  and 
extending  about  3.00  beyond  the  others.  Ads.  dark  phase. — Entire  plumage  dark,  slaty 
brown,  darker  on  top  of  head;  underparts  slightly  lighter;  sometimes  a  trace  of  straw-yellow 
on  sides  and  back  of  neck;  tarsi,  feet  and  tail  as  in  preceding.  Im.  light  phase.— Upperparts, 
wings  and  tail  fuscous;  feathers  of  back,  neck  and  head  more  or  less  bordered,  tipped  or  barred 
with  buffy;  hindneck  and  head  sometimes  buffy,  streaked  or  barred  with  fuscous,  and  varying 
from  this  color  to  plain  fuscous;  longer,  lateral  upper  tail-coverts  barred  with  buffy;  tail  buffy, 
whitish  at  base;  under  wing-coverts  barred  with  buffy;  underparts  white,  washed  with  buffy, 
and  irregularly  barred  with  sooty  fuscous;  these  bars  sometimes  very  numerous  when  the  under- 
parts look  as  if  washed  with  sooty  fuscous;  again,  they  may  be  less  numerous  and  confined  to 
breast  and  sides,  leaving  the  belly  white;  central  tail-feathers  pointed,  projecting  somewhat 
beyond  the  others.  Im.  dark  phase. — Sooty  fuscous  feathers,  particularly  on  underparts,  more 
or  less  marked  with  ochraceous-buff.  L.,  17.00;  W.,  13.00;  T.,  Ad.,  8.60;  Im.,  6.40;  B.,  1.15. 

Remarks. — This  species  closely  resembles  S.  longicaudus.  Adults  of  both  species,  whether 
in  the  dark  or  light  phase  of  plumage,  may  always  be  distinguished  from  each  other  by  the 
difference  in  the  length  of  their  central  tail-feathers,  in  addition  to  the  characters  given  in 
the  key.  Young  birds  cannot  be  distinguished  by  color,  but  may  be  identified  by  the  differ- 
ences in  relative  proportions  of  the  bill.  Eaton  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  in  parasiticus 
the  shafts  of  all  the  primaries  are  white,  while  in  longicaudus  only  the  outer  two  or  three  are 
white,  the  rest  being  abruptly  brownish.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  portions  of  Northern  Hemisphere,  breeding  far  northward,  straggling  in 
winter  occasionally  to  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Once  taken  near  Cape  Lookout  in  winter. 

Our  only  record  of  this  bird  is  that  of  a  specimen  purchased  by  Pearson  from 
A.  Piner  of  Morehead  City.  It  had  been  taken  near  Cape  Lookout  in  the  fall  of 
1897.  (See  Auk,  vol.  16,  p.  249.) 

Jaegers  are  fierce  sea-pirates,  and  constantly  rob  gulls  of  their  food.  Pearson, 
who  has  watched  them  on  the  coast  of  Maine,  states  that  their  flight  is  very  strong, 
and  that  they  are  able  to  turn  and  twist  through  the  air  with  wonderful  dexterity. 

The  Pomarine  Jaeger  (Stercorarius  pomarinus)  winters  as  far  south  as  New  Jersey,  and  the 
Long-tailed  Jaeger  (Stercorarius  longicaudus)  has  been  taken  in  Florida;  hence  both  species 
are  not  unlikely  to  be  found  off  our  coast. 

5.    FAMILY  LARID>E.      GULLS  AND  TERNS 

This  large  and  important  family  contains  the  great  majority  of  the  long- winged 
swimmers.  The  usual  color  is  white,  with  a  darker  mantle,  usually  of  a  pearly, 
bluish  tint,  but  sometimes  blackish  or  sooty. 

Two  subfamilies,  the  gulls  (Larince)  and  the  terns  (Sternince),  are  recognized. 

KEY  TO  THE  SUBFAMILIES  AND  GENERA 

1.  Bill  more  or  less  hooked;  general  color  chiefly  white,  with  a  darker  (bluish -gray  or  slaty) 
mantle;  tail  usually  even.     Gulls.     (Subfamily  Larince.)     See  2. 

1.  Bill  not  hooked,  the  mandibles  even;  tail  deeply  forked  except  in  Anous.     Terns.     (Sub- 

family Sterninw.)     See  4. 

2.  Hind  toe  rudimentary  or  absent.     Rissa. 

2.  Hind  toe  perfectly  developed,  but  small.     See  3. 

3.  Tail  even.     Larus. 

3.  Tail  deeply  emarginate  or  forked.     Xema. 

4.  Tail  little  more  than  one-third  length  of  wing,  its  outer  feathers  broad  and  rounded,  toes 

scantily  webbed,  colors  dark.     Hydrochelidon. 

4.  Tail  much  more  than  one-third  length  of  wing,  its  outer  feathers  narrow  and  pointed,  toes 

full  webbed.     See  3. 

5.  Bill  stout,  its  depth  at  its  base  equal  to  ^  culmen.     Gelochelidon. 

5.  Bill  slender,  its  depth  at  base  not  one-third  its  length.     (If  stout,  wing  is  over  14.00.)     Sterna. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  27 


SUBFAMILY  LARIN/E.      GULLS 

The  subfamily  Larince  numbers  about  fifty  species,  twenty-two  of  which  inhabit 
North  America.  Six  of  these  are  known  to  visit  North  Carolina.  The  ocean  is  so 
distinctly  the  home  of  the  family  that  these  birds  have  long  been  known  as  "sea- 
gulls." They  may  be  distinguished  from  the  terns,  which  they  much  resemble,  by 
their  even  or  rounded  tails,  and  also  by  their  manner  of  feeding;  when  gathering 
food  from  the  water,  they  settle  or  swoop  rather  than  dart  headlong,  as  do  the 
terns.  Gulls  feed  chiefly  upon  floating  refuse  and  animal  matter  cast  up  by  the 
tides.  When  weary,  they  rest  upon  the  waves  or  gather,  often  in  large  flocks,  at 
favorite  spots  on  beaches,  bars,  or  exposed  mud-flats. 

Genus  Larus  (Linn.) 

KEY  TO   SPECIES 

1.  Head  entirely  white  in  summer;  young  more  or  less  dusky  on  head.     Lower  parts  white. 
Length  18  inches  or  more.     See  2. 

1.  Head  black  or  dusky  in  adult  in  summer.     Length  17.00  or  less.     See  5. 

2.  Primaries  without  any  black,  pearl-gray  in  color,  whitish  at  tip.     Glaucous  Gull. 

2.  Primaries  with  white  and  black,  sometimes  all  black  in  young.     See  3. 

3.  Shafts  of  primaries  white  throughout.     Length  about  30.00     Great  Black-backed  Gull. 

3.  Shafts  of  primaries  black.     Length  26  inches  or  less.     See  4. 

4.  Bill  without  black  band,  feet  flesh-colored.     Length  about  25.00.     Herring  Gull. 

4.  Bill  yellowish,  a  black  band  near  the  tip  in  adult.     Feet  yellowish.     Length  about  20.00. 

Ring-billed  Gull. 

5.  Tarsus  much  longer  than  middle  toe  with  claw.     Length  about  15.00.     Laughing  Gull. 
5.  Tarsus  not  longer  than  middle  toe  with  claw.     Length  about  13.00.     Bonaparte's  Gull. 


PIG.  6.     GLAUCOUS  GULL. 

10.  Larus  hyperboreus  (Gunri).    GLAUCOUS  GULL. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Back  and  wings  pale  pearl-gray;  primaries  lightly  tinted  with  pearl,  inner 
half  of  their  inner  webs  and  tips  fading  gradually  into  white;  rest  of  plumage  pure  white. 
Ads.  in  winter. — Similar,  but  with  head  and  neck  lightly  streaked  with  grayish.  Im. — Upper- 
parts  varying  from  ashy  gray  to  white,  feathers  widely  barred,  mottled,  or  streaked  with  buffy 
or  ashy  gray;  primaries  varying  from  pale  smoky  gray  to  pure  white;  tail  ashy  or  brownish 


28  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


gray;  underparts  varying  from  dirty  whitish  to  ashy  gray,  generally  darker  on  belly,  sometimes 
mottled  with  buffy  or  grayish.  (Birds  of  the  second  year  are  said  to  be  pure  white.)  L.,  28.00; 
W.,  17.10;  B.,  2.35;  depth  of  B.  at  projection  on  the  lower  mandible  .75  to  1.00;  Tar.,  2.60. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Arctic  regions,  sometimes  straggling  in  winter  to  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Known  to  have  been  taken  once  in  winter  near  Cape  Lookout. 

The  appearance  of  this  gull  in  North  Carolina  must  be  regarded  as  a  very  rare 
occurrence.  One  was  found  at  Morehead  City,  Carteret  County,  March  30  or  31 
1895,  by  Gerald  H.  Thayer.  (Auk,  vol.  19,  July,  1902,  p.  285.) 

11.  Larus  marinus  (Linn.).     GREAT  BLACK-BACKED  GULL. 

Ads.  in  summer.— Back  and  wings  slaty  black;  wing-feathers  tipped  with  white;  rest  of 
plumage  white;  tail  sometimes  mottled  with  dusky.  Ads.  in  winter. — Similar,  but  with  head 
and  neck  streaked  with  grayish.  Im. — Head  and  nape  whitish,  streaked  with  grayish;  back 
and  wings,  except  primaries,  brownish,  the  feathers  margined  and  irregularly  marked  with 
pale  buffy;  primaries  dark  brownish  black,  inner  ones  with  small  white  tips;  tail  mottled  with 
black  and  white;  underparts  whitish,  more  or  less  streaked  or  barred  with  grayish.  L.,  29.00; 
W.,  18.50;  T.,  8.00;  B.,  2.50.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N._A.) 

Range. — North  Atlantic,  breeding  from  Nova  Scotia  northward,  and  wintering  from  southern 
Greenland  to  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter;  not  common. 


FIG.   7.     GREAT  BLACK-BACKED  GULL. 

The  Black-backed  Gull,  or  "Saddleback/'  breeds  in  North  American  waters  from 
the  Bay  of  Fundy  northward,  and  North  Carolina  is  probably  about  the  southern 
limit  of  its  winter  range.  "I  saw  one  near  Hatteras  Inlet  February  26,  1906,  and 
on  April  2,  1907,  one  was  taken  at  Pea  Island  by  J.  B.  Etheridge  and  forwarded  to 
me  for  the  State  Museum." — H.  H.  BRIMLEY.  One  was  seen  by  C.  R.  Hooker  at 
Pea  Island  on  February  15,  1901.  (Bishop,  Auk,  Feb.,  1901,  p.  26.) 

12.  Larus  argentatus  (Pont.).    HERRING  GULL. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Back  and  wings  deep  pearl-gray;  first  primary  tipped  with  white,  then 
crossed  by  a  small  black  mark,  then  a  much  larger  white  one;  this  is  followed  by  a  black  space; 
the  black  runs  down  the  outer  web  of  the  feather  to  near  its  base  and  the  shaft  part  of  the 
inner  web  nearly  as  far,  leaving  the  inner  two-thirds  of  the  web  below  the  black  mark  white; 
second  primary  similar,  but  second  white  mark  is  a  round  spot  on  the  inner  web,  and  the  black 
occupies  a  greater  space  near  tip,  but  does  not  continue  so  far  down  on  feather;  third  to  sixth 


DESCBIPTIVE  LIST 


primaries  tipped  with  white,  which  is  succeeded  by  a  gradually  diminishing  black  band  which 
extends  farther  down  on  the  outer  web  of  the  feather  than  on  the  inner;  rest  of  plumage  pure 
white.  Ads.  in  winter. — Similar,  but  with  head  and  neck  streaked  and  spotted  with  grayish. 
/TO. — Upperparts  ashy  fuscous;  head  and  nape  more  or  less  streaked  with  pale  buffy;  back 
and  wings  margined  or  irregularly  marked  with  same  color;  primaries  brownish  black;  tail  the 
same,  sometimes  tipped  or  margined  with  buffy;  underparts  ashy  fuscous,  sometimes  lightly 
barred  or  streaked.  L.,  24.00;  W.,  17.50;  T.,  7.50;  B.,  2.30.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  Hemisphere,  breeding  from  Maine  northward,  wintering  from  southern 
Canada  to  the  West  Indies. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter;  abundant. 


PIG.  8.     HERRING  GULL. 

These  large  gulls  are  very  common  about  the  harbors  and  the  lower  reaches  of 
many  of  our  rivers  from  September  to  April.  They  often  come  close  to  the  wharves 
of  the  sea-coast  towns  to  gather  fragments  of  food  floating  on  the  water.  Passen- 
gers of  vessels  find  amusement  in  watching  the  gulls  following  in  the  wake,  con- 
tending for  the  scraps  of  food  thrown  overboard.  Often  they  feed  upon  fish  and 
other  animal  matter  cast  up  by  the  waves.  In  the  Northern  States  they  fly  far 
inland  and  eat  meadow-mice  as  well  as  grasshoppers  and  other  insects.  They  have 
a  peculiar  way  of  feeding  upon  clams.  Discovering  one  which  has  been  exposed 
by  the  falling  tide,  the  bird  grasps  it  with  its  feet  and,  rising  aloft,  drops  it  upon 
the  hard-packed  sand,  for  the  evident  purpose  of  causing  the  shell  to  break  by  the 


30  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


impact.  If  the  first  attempt  fails  to  produce  the  desired  result,  the  performance  is 
repeated.  Pearson  once  observed  a  Herring  Gull  at  Beaufort  make  sixteen  unsuc- 
cessful attempts  to  break  a  clam  in  this  manner,  the  beach  evidently  being  too  soft 
for  success. 

Herring  Gulls  are  abundant  winter  residents  on  our  coast,  and  have  increased 
noticeably  in  numbers  of  recent  years,  doubtless  a  result  of  the  protection  afforded 
them  by  the  wardens  of  the  National  Association  of  Audubon  Societies  at  their 
northern  breeding-grounds. 

13.  Larus  delawarensis  (Ord.).    RING-BILLED  GULL. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Back  and  wings  pearl-gray;  first  primary  black,  with  a  white  spot  near 
tip,  base  of  the  inner  half  of  the  inner  web  pearl-gray;  second  primary  black,  the  basal  half  of 
inner  web  pearl-gray;  on  the  third  to  sixth  primaries  the  black  decreases  rapidly,  and  each 
one  is  tipped  with  white;  rest  of  plumage  pure  white;  bill  greenish  yellow  with  a  black  band 
in  front  of  the  nostril.  Ads.  in  winter. — Similar  to  above,  but  head  and  nape  streaked  with 
grayish.  Im. — Upperparts  varying  from  ashy  fuscous,  the  feathers  margined  with  whitish, 
to  pearl-gray,  the  feathers  more  or  less  mottled,  spotted,  or,  on  head  and  neck,  streaked  with 
ashy.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.\ 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  from  the  northernmost  tier  of  States  northward;  winters 
from  the  Great  Lakes  to  Cuba. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region,  mainly  in  winter:  occasionally  inland. 


FIG.  9.     RIXG-BILLED  GULL. 

The  Ring-billed  Gull  is  found  on  the  coast,  and  also  occurs  inland,  where  it  feeds 
upon  insects,  many  of  which  it  captures  on  the  wing.  Bishop  states  that  it  has 
been  recorded  from  Pea  Island,  July  23  to  August  20,  1904,  and  April  27  to  May  15, 
1906.  Two  were  taken  by  N.  E.  Gould  at  Pea  Island  in  January,  1908.  "They 
seem  to  be  both  a  summer  and  winter  resident  here  at  Pea  Island,  but  are  far  more 
numerous  from  October  1  until  the  middle  of  November.  Comparatively  few 
remain  during  the  winter." — (Letter  from  N.  E.  Gould.)  A  pair  was  taken  by 
Cairns  near  Asheville,  November,  1889.  They  do  not  breed  in  North  Carolina. 

14.  Larus  atricilla  (Linn.).    LAUGHING  GULL. 

Description:  Ads.  in  summer. — Back  and  wings  dark  pearl-gray;  primaries  black,  inner  ones 
with  small  white  tips;  the  whole  head  and  throat  are  a  deep  slate-color;  rest  of  plumage,  in- 
cluding nape,  pure  white,  breast  sometimes  suffused  by  a  delicate  peach-blossom  tint;  bill 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  31 


dark  reddish  brighter  at  the  tip.  Ads.  in  winter. — Resemble  above,  but  have  the  head  and  throat 

white,  crown  and  sides  of  head  and  sometimes  nape  spotted  or  streaked  with  grayish.  Im. 

Upperparts  light  ashy  fuscous,  the  feathers  margined  with  whitish;  primaries  black;  forehead 
and  underparts  white,  sometimes  washed  in  places  with  dusky;  tail  dark  pearl-gray,  broadlv 
tipped  with  black.  L.,  16.50;  W.,  12.50;  T.,  4.90;  B.,  1.65.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range.— Maine  to  Brazil  along  the  coast;  also  casually  in  Colorado,  Nebraska.  Wisconsin. 
Iowa,  and  Ontario. 

Range  in  North  Carolina.— Coastal  region,  breeding  in  Pamlico  Sound. 


FIG.  10.     LAUGHING  GULL. 

In  summer  plumage  this  is  a  strikingly  beautiful  bird.  The  solid  slaty  black  of 
the  head,  the  pure  white  of  the  neck,  the  dark  pearl  gray  of  the  upperparts  and  the 
black  primary  feathers  contrasting  sharply  against  the  pure  white  of  the  under- 
parts and  tail,  combine  to  produce  a  bird  of  noticeably  handsome  appearance.  In 
the  breeding  season  it  is  a  noisy  and  graceful  addition  to  the  life  of  the  treeless 
islands  on  which  it  nests. 

As  a  result  of  protection  extended  to  them  by  the  Audubon  Society  in  recent 
years,  the  Laughing  Gulls  have  greatly  increased  in  numbers  since  1903,  when 
they  were  not  known  to  breed  anywhere  in  this  State.  About  seven  hundred 
young  birds  are  now  raised  every  summer  on  Royal  Shoal  Island  in  Pamlico  Sound, 
where  their  nests  are  built  among  the  clusters  of  grass  and  weeds  growing  on  the 
dry  parts  of  the  island. 

15.  Larus  Philadelphia  (Ord.).    BONAPARTE'S  GULL. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Whole  head  and  throat  dark,  sooty  slate-color;  nape  and  sides  of  the  neck, 
underparts,  except  throat,  and  tail  white;  back  and  wings  pearl-gray;  first  primary,  when 
viewed  from  above,  white,  outer  web  and  tip  black;  second  and  third  primaries  white,  tipped 
with  black;  third  to  sixth  primaries  with  small  whitish  tips,  then  large  black  spaces,  the  rest 
of  feather  white  or  pearl-gray;  bill  black.  Ads.  in  winter. — Similar,  but  head  and  throat  white, 
back  and  sides  of  head  washed  with  grayish.  Im. — Top  of  the  head  and  nape  and  a  spot  on 
the  auriculars  more  or  less  washed  with  grayish;  back  varying  from  brownish  gray  to  pearl- 
gray;  lesser  wing-coverts  grayish  brown,  secondaries  mostly  pearl-gray;  first  primary  with  outer 
web,  tip,  and  most  of  the  shaft  part  of  inner  web  black;  inner  margin  of  inner  web  at  end  of 
feather  narrowly  bordered  with  black;  second  and  third  primaries  much  the  same,  but  with 
slightly  more  black  at  ends;  tail  white,  banded  with  black  and  narrowly  tipped  with  white; 
underparts  white.  L.,  14.00;  W.,  10.30;  T.,  4.00;  B.,  1.15.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America;  breeds  far  northward;  winters  from  Maine  to  Florida,  and  on  the 
Gulf  Coast  to  Texas  and  Yucatan;  on  the  Pacific  Coast  from  British  Columbia  to  Mexico. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter;  occasionally  inland. 


34 


in  South  Carolina,  and  as  it  formerly  bred  in  Virginia,  there  would  appear  to  be 
no  adequate  reason  why,  if  given  proper  protection,  this  species  should  not  become 
a  summer  resident  on  our  coast. 

18.  Sterna  maxima  (Bodd.}.     ROYAL  TERN. 

Ads.  in  spring. — Top  and  back  of  head  shining  black,  feathers  lengthened  to  form  a  crest; 
back  of  neck,  underparts,  and  tail  white;  back  and  wings  pearl-gray;  inner  web  of  primaries, 
except  at  tip,  white;  outer  web,  and  shaft  part  of  inner  web  dark,  silvery  slate-color.  Ads.  after 
the  breeding  season  and  in  winter. — Similar,  but  the  top  of  the  head  streaked  with  black  and 
white.  Im. — Resembling  young  of  S.  caspia,  but  smaller  and  with  the  inner  half  of  the  inner 
web  of  the  primaries  white.  L.,  19.00;  W.,  14.00;  T.,  7.00;  B.,  2.50.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  from  ,the  West  Indies  to  Virginia,  winters  from  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  Peru  and 
Africa. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  summer;  breeds. 

« 

"Royal  Terns  were  recorded  by  Coues  in  1871,  and  since  have  apparently  been  a 
common  summer  resident  along  our  shores,  increasing  greatly  in  numbers  in  recent 
years  as  a  result  of  the  protection  afforded  them  on  their  nesting  grounds  by  the 
wardens  employed  by  the  State  Audubon  Society.  Like  most  of  the  species  of  this 
family,  they  breed  in  colonies.  Their  eggs,  one  or  two  together,  are  placed  among 
the  shells  on  the  bare  sand  without  any  semblance  of  a  constructed  nest  other  than 
a  slight  depression  in  the  earth.  The  nests  are  seldom  more  than  12  or  14  inches 
apart,  and  when  their  owners  are  breeding  it  is  difficult  at  a  little  distance  to  see 
the  sand,  so  completely  is  it  covered  by  the  birds. 

"Their  chief  colony  on  the  North  Carolina  coast  is  on  Royal  Shoal  Island  in 
Pamlico  Sound,  about  10  miles  from  Ocracoke.  Here,  on  June  25,  1907,  the  writer 
found  the  birds  occupying  two  plats  of  ground  each  40  or  50  feet  in  width  and 
about  150  feet  in  length.  On  approaching  one  of  these  groups,  the  birds  arose 
en  masse  and  hovered  in  the  air,  with  heads  to  the  wind. 

"Taking  my  stand  to  windward  of  the  field  of  eggs,  I  at  once  had  the  satisfaction 
of  seeing  the  birds  settling  at  the  other  end.  Soon  others  began  alighting  nearer. 
I  remained  stationary  and  watched  the  splendid  sight.  There  were  at  least  two 
thousand  birds  in  the  flock,  and  only  a  few.  minutes  elapsed  before  the  majority 
were  standing  on  the  ground  over  their  eggs,  many  within  12  or  15  feet  of  me. 
Never  for  a  moment  did  their  prodigious  screamings  cease;  in  fact,  their  discordant 
cries  continued  long  after  I  had  gone  aboard  the  Audubon  patrol-boat,  Dutcher, 
which  lay  for  the  night  in  the  bight  of  the  island. 

"As  soon  as  the  young  are  able  to  walk,  they  leave  the  nests  and  travel  about 
the  island  in  flocks.  I  counted  one  company  of  three  hundred  and  forty-one  thus 
engaged.  When  alarmed  by  my  presence,  they  ran  along  the  beach  until,  being 
hard  pressed,  they  plunged  unhesitatingly  into  the  water  and  in  a  compact  mass 
started  toward  the  open  sea.  The  young  are  supplied  abundantly  with  small  fish, 
many  of  which  may  be  picked  up  on  the  rookery.  How,  among  the  hundreds  of 
young  running  at  large  on  the  island,  the  parents  are  able  to  distinguish  their 
own  is  one  of  the  many  interesting  questions  of  natural  history  as  yet  but  poorly 
answered . ' ' — PEARSON  . 


JO     f 
Z    H 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  35 


19.  Sterna  sandvicensis  acuflavida  (Cabot).    CABOT'S  TERN. 

Description. — Plumages  essentially  similar  to  the  corresponding  ones  of  the  Royal  Tern. 
Bill  deep  black,  usually  with  yellowish  or  whitish  tip.  L.,  14.00-16.00;  W.,  12.50;  T.,  6.00. 

Range. — Breeds  from  North  Carolina  to  Mexico;  winters  from  Florida  to  Brazil. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  summer;  breeds.  Coues  observed  it  at  Fort 
Macon  in  1870  as  a  migrant  and  scarce  winter  visitor. 

"Dr.  Coues  makes  mention  of  the  Cabot's  Tern  occurring  at  Fort  Macon  in  1871 
as  a  migrant  and  infrequent  winter  visitor.  Apparently  no  ornithologist  again 
noticed  this  species  until  Bishop  recorded  its  appearance  at  Pea  Island,  August  31, 
1904,  and  again  on  August  4,  1906.  It  was,  therefore,  with  much  surprise  that  I 
found  the  bird  breeding  on  Royal  Shoal  Island  in  June,  1908.  The  nests,  over 
twenty  of  which  I  counted,  were  merely  slight  excavations  in  the  sand  among  the 
shells.  All  were  situated  among  the  closely  clustered  nests  of  the  Royal  Tern, 
with  which  the  Cabot's  Tern  seemed  to  associate  constantly.  Like  their  large 
neighbors,  they  were  very  tame,  and  I  easily  photographed  them  at  a  distance  not 
greater  than  fifteen  feet.  Late  in  the  day,  by  exercising  much  patience,  I  crawled 
over  the  bare  beach  to  within  seven  feet  of  one  as  it  sat  on  its  eggs,  and  for  several 
minutes  we  observed  each  other  at  leisure.  During  the  course  of  my  approach  the 
brooding  bird  frequently  left  its  eggs  and  hovered  above  it,  but  quickly  settled 
again  when  my  movements  ceased.  Warden  N.  F.  Jennett,  who  guards  the  island, 
reported  that  sixty-four  Cabot's  Tern  eggs  were  laid  during  the  season  of  1907, 
and  that  in  1908  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  eggs  were  deposited.  Two  eggs 
are  usually  found  in  a  nest.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Royal  Shoal  and  Legged 
Lump,  but  a  few  miles  distant,  probably  constitute  the  northern  breeding  range 
of  the  bird  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  of  America." — PEARSON. 

20.  Sterna  forsteri  (Nutt.).    FORSTER'S  TERN. 

Description. — Summer  adult  pale  pearl-gray  above,  white  below;  whole  top  of  head  and  nape 
black;  bill  dull  orange,  feet  orange-red;  in  winter  somewhat  duller,  with  whole  top  of  head 
white;  immature  birds  similar  to  winter  adults,  but  duller.  Inner  web  of  outer  tail-feather 
dusky  towards  end,  the  outer  web  entirely  white.  L..  14.00-15.00;  W.,  9.50-10.25;  T.,  5.50-7.75. 


FIG.   13.     FORSTER'S  TERN. 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  as  far  south  as  Virginia,  and  win- 
tering from  South  Carolina  to  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Now  accidental  in  the  coastal  region. 


36  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


This  species  appears  to  be  rare  in  our  State.  It  was  mentioned  by  Coues  as  a 
migrant  and  also  winter  resident  at  Fort  Macon  in  1871.  Bishop  found  it  at  Pea 
Island,  July  23  to  August  20,  1904.  A  few  pairs,  perhaps  twelve  or  fifteen,  are 
yet  known  to  breed  near  Cobb's  Island,  Virginia,  which  appear  to  constitute  the 
only  summer  colony  remaining  today  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  the  United  States. 

21.  Sterna  hirundo  (Linn.).    COMMON  TERN. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Whole  top  of  head  black;  back  and  wings  pearl-gray;  inner  border  of  inner 
web  of  outer  primaries  white,  except  at  tip;  throat  white;  breast  and  belly  pale  pearl-gray;  tail 
white,  the  outer  webs  of  the  outer  feathers  gray  or  pearl-gray;  bill  red  at  the  base,  the  end-third 
black;  feet  orange-red.  Ads.  in  winter. — Similar,  but  front  part  of  head  and  underparts  white; 
bill  mostly  black.  Im. — Similar,  but  back  more  or  less  washed  or  mottled  with  light  brownish; 
lesser  wing-coverts  slaty-gray,  and  tail  much  shorter.  L.,  15.00;  W.,  10.25;  T.,  5.50;  Tar.,  .75; 
B.,  1.40.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  Hemisphere,  northern  South  America,  and  Africa.  Breeds  from  Great  Slave 
Lake,  central  Keewatin,  and  southern  Ungava  south  to  southwest  Saskatchewan,  northern 
North  Dakota,  southern  Wisconsin,  northern  Ohio,  and  North  Carolina;  winters  from  Florida 
to  Brazil;  casual  in  migration  on  Pacific  coast  from  British  Columbia  to  Lower  California. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  summer;  breeds. 


FIG.  14.     COMMON  TERN. 

Next  to  the  Royal  Tern,  this  is  today  the  most  abundant  member  of  the  family 
along  the  North  Carolina  coast,  from  which  it  rarely  if  ever  strays  inland.  On 
various  islands  in  Pamlico  Sound  it  breeds,  placing  its  eggs  on  the  drifted  eel-grass 
above  high-water  mark,  or  more  frequently  dropping  them  in  the  sand.  It  is  very 
noisy  when  its  nest  or  young  is  approached,  and  will  frequently  dart  viciously  at 
the  intruder,  screaming  continuously  in  a  high-pitched  voice.  It  is  graceful  in  its 
movements,  presenting  a  beautiful  sight  as  it  beats  along  our  shores  early  in  spring 
and  late  in  summer,  adding  much  to  the  charm  of  a  seaside  visit.  Like  our  other 
terns,  it  suffered  greatly  at  the  hands  of  the  plume-hunters  for  many  years.  Now, 
however,  thanks  to  the  protection  afforded  it  by  the  Audubon  Society,  it  bids  fair 
to  resume  something  like  its  former  numbers. 

22.  Sterna  dougalli  (Montague).    ROSEATE  TERN. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Top  of  head  black;  back  and  wings  pearl-gray;  outer  web  of  outer  pri- 
maries and  shaft  part  of  the  inner  web  slaty  black;  underparts  white,  generally  delicately 
tinted  with  pinkish;  tail  pure  white;  bill  black,  the  base  reddish;  feet  red.  Ads.  in  winter. — 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  37 


Similar  to  the  above  but  front  of  the  head  white,  more  or  less  streaked  or  spotted  with  black; 
underparts  pure  white.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.)  Im.,  first  plumage. — "Pileum  and  nape 
pale  buffy  grayish,  finely  mottled  or  sprinkled  with  darker,  and  streaked,  especially  on  the 
crown,  with  dusky;  orbital  and  auricular  regions  dusky  blackish;  remainder  of  the  head,  extreme 
lower  part  of  the  nape,  and  entire  lowerparts  white,  the  nape  and  sometimes  the  breast,  finely 
mottled  with  buffy  gray;  back,  scapulars,  wing-coverts,  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  tail, 
pale  pearl-blue,  the  back  and  scapulars  overlaid  with  pale  buff  irregularly  mottled  with  dusky, 
each  feather  with  a  submarginal  dusky  V-shaped  mark;  primary  coverts  and  primaries  dark 
bluish  gray  edged  with  paler,  the  inner  webs  of  the  latter  broadly  edged  with  white;  tail-feathers 
marked  near  their  ends  much  like  the  longer  scapulars,  their  outer  webs  rather  dark  grayish; 
bill  brownish  dusky;  feet  dusky."  L.,  15.50;  W.,  9.50;  T.,  7.50;  B.,  1.50  (B.,  B.,  and  R.). 

Range. — Temperate  and  tropical  regions,  on  coasts;  now  rare  in  the  eastern  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region;  rare  migrant. 


FIG.   15.     ROSEATE  TERN. 

Our  only  record  of  the  occurrence  of  the  Roseate  Tern  in  North  Carolina  is  that 
made  by  Bishop  at  Pea  Island,  August  22,  1904.  (Mss.)  The  bird  is  not  known 
to  nest  south  of  Massachusetts  and  possibly  New  York. 

23.  Sterna  antillarum  (Less.).    LEAST  TERN. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Forehead  white,  lores  and  crown  black;  back,  tail  and  wings  pearl-gray; 
outer  web  of  outer  primaries  and  shaft  part  of  inner  web  slaty  black;  underparts  white;  bill 
yellow,  generally  tipped  with  black;  feet  orange.  Ads.  in  winter. — Top  of  head  white,  more  or 
less  spotted  with  black;  back  of  head  black;  bill  blackish.  Im. — Upperparts  and  tail  at  end 
mottled  with  blackish  and  buffy,  primaries  as  in  adult,  underparts  white,  bill  blackish. 
L.,  9.00;  W.,  6.90;  T.,  3.50;  B.,  1.10.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Tropical  and  temperate  America.     Breeds  from  Massachusetts  to  Venezuela. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  summer;  breeds. 

This  is  the  smallest  of  our  terns.  Judging  by  the  reports  of  fishermen,  the  "Little 
Striker"  was  at  one  time  the  most  abundant  of  those  Longipennes  which  frequent 
the  sounds  and  beaches  of  our  South  Atlantic  coast.  The  beauty  of  its  plumage  as 
well  as  the  convenient  size  of  its  wings  for  women's  hats  made  it  a  bird  especially 
desired  for  commercial  purposes.  It  has  been  stated  frequently  on  good  authority 
that  ten  thousand  skins  of  the  Least  Tern  were  collected  by  a  New  York  millinery 
firm  on  Cobb's  Island,  Virginia,  in  a  single  season.  Royal  Shoal  Island,  together 
with  Legged  Lump  Island,  both  of  which  are  owned  and  protected  by  the  Audubon 
Society,  are  today  the  homes  of  the  largest  colonies  in  the  eastern  United  States; 
four  or  five  hundred  pairs  gather  here  each  summer  to  breed.  When  in  quest  of 


38 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


food  they  often  collect  in  numbers  about  the  inlets  or  other  places  where  the  tides 
run  rapidly  between  the  shoals.  On  such  occasions  they  may  be  seen  flying  slowly 
against  the  breeze,  or  falling  off  and  darting  with  great  rapidity  down  wind,  only 
to  round  up  in  wide,  irregular  circles.  From  a  height  of  ten  to  fifty  feet  they 
plunge  like  beautiful  silvery  arrow-heads  into  the  deep,  and  with  equal  grace  rise 


FIG.  16.     LEAST  TEEN. 

again  quickly  on  the  wing.  After  feeding,  they  rest  in  crowds  on  the  sand-bars 
or  along  the  beaches.  Not  infrequently  the  spot  chosen  is  the  favorite  resting-place 
for  other  varieties  of  birds,  and  the  assembly  forms  a  noticeable  object  as  viewed 
from  a  passing  vessel.  These  birds  also  nest  to  a  limited  extent  on  the  sand-beaches 
about  Ocracoke.  In  addition  to  fish,  the  Least  Tern  is  said  to  partake  sparingly 
of  insects. 


FIG.   17.     SOOTY  TERN. 

24.  Sterna  fuscata  (Linn.}.    SOOTY  TERN. 

Description. — Upperparts  uniform  sooty  black,  forehead,  sides  of  head,  and  lower  parts  white; 
bill  and  feet  black;  immature  birds  wholly  sooty  brown,  paler  below;  the  anal  region  and  under 
wing-coverts  white.  L.,  15.00-17.00;  W.,  about  12.00;  T.,  7.00-7.50. 

Range. — Mainly  tropical  and  subtropical  regions. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Occasional  on  the  coast;  accidental  inland. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  39 


Coues  mentions  seeing  a  flock  of  these  southern  terns  near  Fort  Macon  on  March 
16,  1869.  An  adult  male  was  captured  near  Raleigh  on  June  30,  1909,  and  brought 
to  H.  H.  Brimley.  It  was  much  emaciated,  although  apparently  uninjured.  The 
specimen  is  preserved  in  the  State  Museum.  This  constitutes  the  total  of  our 
knowledge  regarding  the  appearance  of  this  tropical  form  within  the  State. 

Genus  Hydrochelidon  (Boie) 
25.  Hydrochelidon  nigra  surinamensis  (Gmel).    BLACK  TERN. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Whole  head  and  underparts,  except  under  tail-coverts,  black;  back,  wings, 
and  tail  slate-color;  bill  and  feet  black.  Ads.  in  winter. — Forehead,  nape,  and  underparts  white; 
back  of  the  head  black  mixed  with  white;  back,  wings,  and  tail  deep  pearl-gray.  Im.— Similar 
to  the  preceding,  but  upperparts  more  or  less  washed  and  tipped  with  brownish;  sides  washed 
with  grayish.  L.,  10.00;  W.,  8.30;  T.,  3.30;  B.,  1.00.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  and  South  America.  Breeds  inland  from  central  Canada  to  Missouri  and 
California.  Coast  of  United  States  in  autumn;  winters  southward  to  Peru  and  Chile. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Occurs  to  a  limited  extent  throughout  the  State  during  the 
migrations,  principally,  however,  in  autumn. 


FIG.  18.     BLACK  TERN. 

The  Black  Terns  are  common  migrants  in  North  Carolina,  occurring  in  spring, 
but  more  abundantly  from  July  to  October.  In  irregular  flocks  they  appear  in 
Pamlico  Sound  early  in  July.  "I  saw  them  near  Ocracoke  in  considerable  num- 
bers on  July  5,  1899.  Bishop  found  them  near  Pea  Island,  July  13  and  15,  and 
again  August  10-24,  1904.  Apparently  all  pass  on  to  the  south  before  the  coming 
of  cold  weather.  Unlike  any  other  species  of  North  Carolina  terns,  this  one  occurs 
regularly  inland,  on  small  bodies  of  water.  H.  H.  Brimley  has  recorded  one  at 
Raleigh  on  each  of  the  following  dates:  July  28,  1884;  August  3,  1893;  May  10, 
1898,  and  April  18,  1907.  I  found  two  on  Lake  Toxaway,  in  Transylvania  County, 
September  5,  1904,  and  three  at  Cone's  Lake,  Blowing  Rock,  in  July,  1906.  Bruner 
observed  a  number  at  Blowing  Rock  in  the  summer  of  1905.  H.  H.  Brimley  saw 
two  at  White  Lake,  Bladen  County,  May  20,  1909.  The  movements  of  this  tern 
when  flying  over  a  pond  suggest  those  of  the  Nighthawk  when  darting  about  over 
the  fields  of  a  summer  evening,  the  nearness  in  size  and  superficial  similarity  of 
color  when  not  in  a  strong  light  assisting  the  resemblance.  J.  F.  Jordan,  of  Greens- 
boro, told  me  that  in  August,  1905,  a  Black  Tern  approached  a  boat  in  which  he 
was  fishing,  at  Manchester,  in  Cumberland  County  and,  striking  down,  took  in  its 
beak  the  baited  hook  he  was  swinging  in  the  air." — PEARSON. 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


6.    FAMILY  RYNCHOPID>E.      SKIMMERS 

A  small  family  of  gull -like  birds  with  the  lower  mandible  much  longer  than  the 
upper,  both  being  excessively  compressed  like  a  thin  knife-blade. 

Genus  Rynchops  (Linn.) 
26.  Rynchops  nigra  (Linn.}.    BLACK  SKIMMER;  "SHEARWATER." 

Ads. — Forehead,  sides  of  the  head,  underparts  and  tips  of  the  secondaries  white;  upper- 
parts  and  wings  black;  outer  tail-feathers  white,  inner  ones  more  or  less  brownish;  base  of  bill 
red,  end  black.  L.,  18.00;  W.,  14.50;  T.,  4.75;  B.,  2.60. 

Range. — Tropical  and  temperate  America.  Breeds  from  Virginia  (formerly  from  New  Jersey) 
to  the  coast  of  Texas;  wanders  casually  north  to  Bay  of  Fundy;  winters  from  the  Gulf  coast 
to  Colima,  Mexico,  and  Costa  Rica;  casual  in  the  West  Indies.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  summer. 


FIG.   19.     BLACK  SKIMMER. 


"Late  in  April,  or  about  the  first  of  May,  Black  Skimmers  appear  along  our 
coast  in  small  flocks  which  rapidly  increase  by  the  arrival  of  others.  When  in 
search  of  food,  they  usually  go  in  pairs  or  small  flocks,  often  strung  out  in  long, 
uneven  columns  or  lines.  Sometimes  these  unite  and  in  large  companies,  and  the 
birds  rest  on  the  sand  or,  rising,  whirl  in  a  compact  mass  out  over  the  water,  fre- 
quently to  return  in  a  few  minutes  to  the  spot  but  recently  quitted.  The  chorus 
of  deep  cries  which  they  emit  on  such  occasions  might  well  be  compared  to  that  of 
innumerable  eager  hounds  hot  upon  the  trail  of  some  denizen  of  the  forest. 

"Skimmers  are  largely  crepuscular  in  their  feeding  habits,  being  much  more 
active  about  twilight.  But  far  into  the  night,  especially  when  the  moon  is  bright, 
their  weird,  harsh  bark  may  be  heard  as  they  fly  slowly  over  the  water,  the  under 
mandible  slanting  downward  and  cutting  the  surface  like  a  knife-blade.  Skimmers 
breed  with  us  in  June,  July,  and  August,  on  several  of  the  islands  and  beaches  in 
Dare,  Hyde,  and  Carteret  counties.  Often  their  nests  are  located  near  those  of  the 
terns,  which  usually  resort  to  the  same  region  for  purposes  of  nidification.  In 
June,  1907,  a  storm  tide  swept  a  thousand  eggs  of  the  Royal  Tern  from  their  nests 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  41 


on  Royal  Shoal,  and  left  them  in  a  great  windrow  along  the  beach.  (See  photo- 
graph in  Bird-Lore,  vol.  10,  p.  125.)  The  terns  at  once  took  possession  of  the  part 
of  the  island  occupied  by  the  Skimmers,  scratched  holes  in  the  sand  for  their  nests, 
and  buried  or  kicked  the  Skimmers'  eggs  out  of  the  way." — PEARSON. 

III.  ORDER  TUBINARES.     TUBE-NOSED  SWIMMERS 

The  representatives  of  this  order  are  all  birds  of  the  high  seas.  They  are  much 
like  the  Long-winged  Swimmers  in  general  appearance,  but  the  covering  of  the  bill 
is  composed  of  several  pieces  separated  by  deep  grooves.  The  bill  is  hooked  at  the 
tip,  and  the  nostrils  are  tubular.  But  one  family  is  represented  in  our  fauna. 

7.    FAMILY  PROCELLARIID>£.      FULMARS,  SHEARWATERS,  AND  PETRELS 

Nostrils  united  in  a  double  tube  placed  on  the  culmen.  Only  two  genera  are 
known  to  occur  on  our  coast,  but  another  is  not  unlikely  to  visit  it. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Secondaries  13  or  more  in  number.     Wing  more  than  7.00.     Partition  between  nostrils  very 

thick.     Puffinus. 
1.  Secondaries  10.     Tarsus  over  1.25.     Wing  less  than  7.00.     Oceanites. 

Genus  Puffinus  (Briss.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

Four  species  have  been  recorded,  and  may  be  distinguished  as  follows: 

1.  Dusky  above  and  below.     Sooty  Shearwater. 

1.  Dusky  above,  white  below.     See  2. 

2.  Wing  less  than  12.00.     Audubon's  Shearwater. 


FIG.  20.     CORY'S  SHEARWATER. 


2.  Wing  more"than  12.00.     See  3. 

3.  White  of  throat,  shading  gradually  into  dusky  of  head  and  neck.     Cory's  Shearwater. 

3.  White  of  throat,  separated  abruptly  from  dusky  of  head  and  neck.     Greater  Shearwater. 


42  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


27.  Puffinus  borealis  (Cory).    CORY'S  SHEARWATER. 

Description:  Ad. — Upperparts  ashy  fuscous,  wings  and  tail  darker;  sides  of  head  and  neck 
slightly  lighter;  underparts  white,  sometimes  washed  with  grayish  on  the  breast;  under  wing- 
coverts  and  under  tail-coverts  white,  the  latter  more  or  less  mottled  with  grayish;  bill  yellowish. 
L.,  21.00;  W.,  14.00;  Tar.,  2.20;  B.,  2.10.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Known  heretofore  only  off  the  coasts  of  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  and  Long 
Island. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Accidental  at  Beaufort. 

Cory's  Shearwater  is  recorded  on  the  authority  of  Atkinson,  who  in  his  "Pre- 
liminary Catalogue  of  North  Carolina  Birds"  says:  "I  saw  at  Beaufort  a  wing  of 
one  of  the  shearwaters  taken  at  that  place.  From  the  length  of  the  wing  and  from 
the  description  of  the  bird  given  to  me,  I  judge  it  to  be  this  species."  This  was 
in  December,  1887. 

28.  Puffinus  gravis  (O'Reilly').     GREATER  SHEARWATER. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  fuscous,  wings  and  tail  slightly  darker;  longer  upper  tail- 
coverts  tipped  with  whitish;  underparts  white;  belly  more  or  less  ashy  gray:  under  tail- coverts 
ashy  gray;  bill  blackish.  L..  20.00;  W.,  12.25;  Tar.,  2.20;  B.,  1.85.  (Chap.,' Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Whole  Atlantic;  occurs  off  the  coast  of  North  America  from^June  to  November. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Coastal  region,  off  shore. 


Fid.  21.     GREATER  SHEARWATER. 

Maynard  states  that  on  July  4,  1897,  while  about  fifty  miles  off  Cape  Hatteras, 
he  saw  a  number  of  these  birds  (Smithwick's  List,  p.  202).  As  the  species  occurs 
from  the  Arctic  Circle  to  Cape  Horn  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  it  may  be  ex- 
pected to  occur  off  our  coast  from  time  to  time. 

29.  Puffinus  Iherminieri  (Less.).    AUDUBON'S  SHEARWATER. 

Description. — Upperparts,  wings,  and  tail  dark,  sooty,  brownish  black;  underparts  white; 
sides  of  the  breast  grayish;  a  patch  on  the  flanks  and  under  tail-coverts  sooty  brownish  black; 
inner  side  of  tarsi  yellowish,  outer  brownish;  bill  blackish.  L.,  12.00;  W.,  8.00;  Tar.,  1.60;  B., 
1.20.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Warmer  parts  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean.     Breeds  in  the  Antilles  and  Bahamas. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Accidental  at  Beaufort. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


43 


One  was  picked  up  dead  at  Beaufort  on  July  28,  1910,  by  Stephen  C.  Brunei, 
of  Raleigh,  who  now  has  the  skin  in  his  possession. 


FIG.  22.     AUDUBON'S  SHEARWATER. 

30.  Puffinus  griseus  (Gmel).    SOOTY  SHEARWATER. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts,  wings  and  tail  dark,  sooty,  brownish  black;  underparts 
somewhat  grayer;  bill  blackish.  L.,  17.00;  W.,  12.00;  Tar.,  2.10;  B.,  1.65.  (Chap.,  Birds  of 
E.  N.  A.} 

Range. — Oceans  of  Southern  Hemisphere  to  Alaska  and  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region,  off  shore  in  summer. 


FIG.  23.     SOOTY  SHEARWATER. 

One  was  taken  at  Fort  Macon  by  Coues,  May  21,  1870.  Pearson  found  two  in 
the  possession  of  Augustine  Finer,  a  taxidermist  at  Moiehead  City,  in  1899,  and 
was  told  that  they  had  been  taken  near  Cape  Lookout  two  years  previous.  A  third 
record  is  that  made  by  H.  H.  Brimley  at  Beaufort,  June,  1892. 

Genus  Oceanites  (K.  and  B.) 
31.  Oceanites  oceanicus  (Kuhl).    WILSON'S  PETREL. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts,  wings  and  tail  sooty  black;  underparts  somewhat  lighter; 
under  tail-coverts  mixed  with  whitish,  longer  upper  tail-coverts  white,  shorter  ones  marked 
with  sooty  black;  wing-coverts  grayish,  margined  with  whitish;  bill  and  feet  black,  toe-webs 
mostly  yellow.  L.,  7.00;  W.,  5.90;  T.,  2.80;  B.,  .50.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 


44  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Range. — Breeds  on  Antarctic  islands  in  February;  occurs  off  the  American  coast  from  May  to 
September. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — In  the  ocean,  off  shore,  in  summer. 

"This  is  the  petrel  frequently  seen  on  our  Atlantic  waters  in  summer.  While 
trolling  for  mackerel  off  the  coast  near  Cape  Lookout  the  writer  saw  several  of  these 
birds  in  July,  1899.  So  close  to  the  waves  do  they  fly,  and  often  with  their  feet 
hanging,  that  it  is  little  wonder  the  idea  arose  long  ago  that  petrels  actually  walk 
the  waves  like  Peter  of  old.  I  have  frequently  watched  them  at  sea  beating  about 
the  vessel,  now  circling  the  bow,  now  dropping  far  behind  to  examine  some  frag- 
ments of  food  thrown  overboard,  and  again  appearing  close  alongside.  They  always 
remind  me  of  purple  martins  with  white  rumps.  During  the  severe  storm  which 
raged  on  the  North  Carolina  coast  August  28,  29,  and  30,  1893,  many  thousands  of 
these  birds  were  driven  and  washed  ashore  along  the  line  of  beach  extending  from 
the  mouth  of  Beaufort  Harbor  to  Cape  Lookout,  a  distance  of  ten  miles.  I  have 
this  information  from  several  reliable  parties.  The  exact  dates  of  the  storm  I 
secured  from  the  log-book  of  Capt.  William  H.  Gaskin  of  the  Cape  Lookout  Life 
Saving  Station. 


FIG.  24.     WILSON'S  PETREL. 

"Mr.  James  Davis,  formerly  a  well  known  business  man  of  Beaufort,  who  had 
occasion  to  go  along  the  beach  to  a  wreck  just  after  the  storm,  says:  'Every  two 
or  three  yards  lay  a  Mother  Gary's  chicken;  many  were  dead,  others  were  alive, 
but  too  weak  to  fly.  In  places  two  or  three  would  be  lying  together;  at  certain 
points  for  a  distance  of  many  feet  the  ground  would  be  completely  covered  with  the 
bodies,  sometimes  piled  two  or  three  deep.  This  was  frequently  the  case  until  I 
reached  the  bight  of  the  cape.  Here  in  the  cove  the  slaughter  had  been  tremen- 
dous. Thousands  of  birds  sat  or  lay  on  the  ground,  covering  the  beach  like  a 
blanket,  extending  from  the  water's  edge  up  into  the  grass  on  the  higher  ground. 
The  fishermen  of  the  neighborhood  carried  home  with  them  baskets  filled  with  these 
birds  to  eat.'  Mention  of  this  remarkable  occurrence  was  made  in  the  Auk,  vol.  16, 
p.  247."— PEARSON. 

The  Leach's  Petrel,  Oceanodroma  leucorhoa  (Vieill.),  sometimes  occurs  as  far  south  as  Vir- 
ginia, and  may  perhaps  wander  to  this  State.  This  is  very  similar  in  appearance  to  the 
Wilson's,  but  has  shorter  legs  (tarsus  less  than  1.00,  instead  of  over  1.25  as  in  the  Wilson's 
Petrel),  and  is  somewhat  larger.  (L.,  5.50-8.75;  W.,  6.00-6.25;  T.,  3.50-4.00.) 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  45 


IV.  ORDER  STEGANOPODES.     TOTIPALMATE  SWIMMERS 

This  order  comprises  those  birds  which  have  completely  webbed  feet,  the  web 
even  connecting  with  the  hind  toe.  Five  families  are  represented  in  the  State,  and 
members  of  a  sixth  (Phaethontidce)  may  possibly  occur  as  stragglers.  All  are 
large. 

KEY  TO  FAMILIES 

1.  Nostrils  evident;  bill  not  hooked;  tail  short,  with  long  central  feathers;  whole  head  feathered. 
Phaethontidce,  Tropic  birds. 

1.  Nostrils  not  perceptible;  head  with  some  naked  skin.     See  2. 

2.  Bill  hooked  at  tip.     See  3. 

2.  Bill  not  hooked  at  tip.     See  5. 

3.  Tail  very  deeply  forked.     Fregatidoe,  Man-o'-war  birds. 

3.  Tail  not  forked.     See  4. 

4.  Bill  compressed;  gular  sac  small.     Phalacrocoracidce,  Cormorants. 

4.  Bill  flattened;  gular  sac  very  large.     Pelecanidce,  Pelicans. 

5.  Bill  very  thick  at  base;  tail  graduated.     Sulidoe,  Gannets. 

5.  Bill  slender;  neck  very  long  and  slender,  tail  long,  rounded.     Anhingidoe,  Darters. 

Two  species  of  the  family  Phaethontidce  occur  in  the  West  Indies  and  occasionally  straggle 
northward.  These  are  the  Yellow-billed  Tropic-bird,  Phaethon  americanus  (Grant),  a  good- 
sized,  light-colored  sea-bird  with  the  bill  yellow  or  orange  and  with  the  wing  about  11  inches, 
and  the  Red-billed  Tropic-bird,  Phaethon  oethereus  (Grant)  which  is  similar,  but  has  the  bill 
coral-red  in  the  adult.  The  latter  is  a  little  larger,  the  wing  being  11.75-12.00.  Both,  when 
adult,  have  the  middle  tail-feathers  projecting  far  beyond  the  others. 

8.    FAMILY  SULID>E.     GANNETS 

Genus  Sula  (Briss.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

One  species  occurs  in  our  State  and  another  southern  form  is  known  to  have 
ranged  as  far  north  as  South  Carolina. 

1.  Whole  lower  bill,  together  with  chin  and  entire  throat,  naked.  Feet  greenish  or  yellow- 
ish. Wing  about  15.75.  Booby. 

1.  Sides  of  lower  bill  and  sides  of  chin  and  throat  densely  feathered.  Feet  blackish.  Wing 
about  19.50.  Gannet. 

32.  Sula  bassana  (Linn.).    GANNET. 

Description:  Ads. — White,  head  and  neck  tinged  with  pale  straw-yellow;  primaries  fuscous. 
7m. — Throat  and  upperparts,  including  wing-coverts,  dark  grayish  brown,  each  feather  with 
a  small  white  wedge-shaped  spot;  breast  and  belly  white,  margined  with  grayish  brown.  L.. 
35.00;  W.,  19.00;  T.,  9.50;  B.,  4.00.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Coasts  of  North  Atlantic  Ocean.  Breeds  northerly  in  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  on 
the  British  Islands;  winters  from  North  Carolina  to  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  the  cooler  portions  of  the  year. 

This  species  appears  in  winter  in  Pamlico  Sound  and  in  the  ocean  off  our  shores, 
where  it  is  found  singly  or  in  small  straggling  flocks.  When  in  quest  of  food  it 
flies  over  the  ocean  with  neck  outstretched,  usually  at  an  altitude  of  from  fifty  to 
one  hundred  feet.  When  a  coveted  fish  is  discovered,  it  plunges  headlong,  striking 
the  water  with  terrific  force.  Sailors  are  said  to  amuse  themselves  sometimes  by 
towing  a  heavy  plank  upon  which  has  been  nailed  a  fish.  The  force  of  the  blow 
when  the  bird  strikes  sometimes  drives  its  bill  through  the  board. 


46 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Augustine  Finer  has  killed  many  in  the  ocean  near  Morehead  City,  and  speci- 
mens in  the  Museums  at  Guilford  College,  at  the  Normal  and  Industrial  College 
at  Greensboro,  and  in  the  State  Museum  at  Raleigh,  were  secured  from  him  by 
Pearson.  Coues  saw  several  at  Fort  Macon  during  thick  weather  in  1869  and 
1870.  Bishop  records  one  from  Pea  Island,  January  2,  1906. 


FIG.  25.     GAXXET. 


FIG.  26.     FOOT  OP  GANNET. 


Besides  the  Gannet,  another  member  of  this  family,  the  Booby,  Sula  leucogastra  (Bodd.), 
may  occur  as  a  straggler  on  our  coast  in  summer.  This  is  a  somewhat  smaller  bird  than  the 
Gannet,  and  is  mainly  sooty  brown  in  color. 

9.    FAMILY  ANH1NG1D>E.      DARTERS 

Genus  Anhinga  (Briss.) 
33.  Anhinga  anhinga  (Linn.}.    WATER-TURKEY 

Ad.  cf  in  summer. — General  plumage  glossy  black  with  greenish  reflections;  back  of  head 
and  neck  with  scattered  grayish  plumes;  upper  back  with  numerous  elongated  silvery  white 
spots,  which  on  the  scapulars  become  streaks;  lesser  wing-coverts  spotted  like  back;  exposed 
portion  of  median  and  greater  coverts  silvery  gray;  tail  tipped  with  whitish,  outer  webs  of 
middle  pair  of  feathers  with  transverse  flutings.  Ad.  d"  in  winter. — Similar,  but  without  gray- 
ish plumes  on  head  and  neck.  Ad.  9  . — Similar  to  d",  but  with  the  whole  head,  neck,  and 
breast  brownish,  darker  above.  Im. — Similar  to  ?  ,  but  with  black  parts  of  plumage  brownish. 
L.,  34.00;  W.,  13.50;  T.,  10.50;  B.,  3.25.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Tropical  America  from  North  Carolina  and  southern  Illinois  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far  only  known  from  the  extreme  southeastern  count v  of  the 
State. 

"While  approaching  a  colony  of  herons  in  Tom  Branch  on  the  Orton  plantation, 
fifteen  miles  below  Wilmington,  June  7,  1898,  a  Water-Turkey  was  flushed  from 
its  nest  in  a  cypress-tree  about  ten  feet  above  the  water.  The  bird  flew  rapidly 
away  for  perhaps  thirty  rods,  then,  turning,  came  driving  back  overhead,  only  to 
return  shortly  from  the  opposite  direction.  At  each  approach  it  appeared  higher 
in  the  air  until  at  a  considerable  altitude,  when  it  began  to  circle  on  motionless 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


47 


wings.     It  was  a  male  in  magnificent  plumage.     Another  male  bird  was  seen  the 
same  day,  but  no  females  were  observed,  nor  were  other  nests  found. 

"The  nest  examined  was  a  heavy  structure  of  sticks  and  twigs,  lined  with  gray 
moss  (Tillandsia  usneoides).  It  contained  four  much  incubated  eggs.  I  am  aware 
of  no  previous  record  of  the  bird  breeding  north  of  South  Carolina.  In  June, 


FIG.  27.     WATER-TURKEY. 

1904,  I  again  found  the  Anhinga  on  Orton  Pond,  three  birds  being  observed,  but 
no  nest  found.  It  would  not  be  surprising  if  the  Water-Turkey  should  be  found 
breeding  in  suitable  localities  in  Brunswick  and  New  Hanover  counties,  although 
much  hunting  for  them  by  H.  H.  Brimley  and  myself  has  thus  far  been  without 
further  results."- — PEARSON. 

1O.    FAMILY  PHAI_ACROCORACID>£.     CORMORANTS 

But  one  genus  of  this  family  exists  in  North  Carolina,  and  is  represented  in  the 
State  by  one  species  with  two  geographical  races.  Cormorants  are  large  black  or 
dark-brown  birds,  with  short,  stout,  legs  and  long,  heavy  necks.  The  beak  is  long 
and  sharply  hooked.  As  a  rule,  they  are  maritime,  but  they  also  frequent  bodies  of 
fresh  water.  They  procure  their  living  by  diving  and  pursuing  their  prey  under 
water. 


48  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Genus  Phalacrocorax  (Briss.) 

Represented  in  our  State  by  two  closely  allied  forms  differing  only  in  size  and 
in  time  of  occurrence. 

34.  Phalacrocorax  auritus  auritus  (Swains.).  DOUBLE-CRESTED  CORMO- 
RANT. 

Ads.  in  breeding  plumage. — Head,  neck,  rump  and  underparts  glossy  black;  upper  back, 
scapulars,  and  wing-coverts  light  grayish  brown,  each  feather  margined  with  glossy  black; 
tail  black,  composed  of  twelve  feathers;  a  tuft  of  black  feathers  on  either  side  of  the  head;  a  few 
white  ones  over  the  eye.  Ads.  in  winter. — Similar,  but  without  tufts  on  the  head.  Im. — Top 
of  the  head  and  back  of  the  neck  blackish  brown;  upper  back,  scapulars,  and  wing  coverts 
brownish  gray,  each  feather  margined  with  black;  rump  glossy  black;  sides  of  the  head  and 
foreneck  grayish  white,  whiter  on  the  breast  and  changing  gradually  to  black  on  the  lower 
belly.  L.,  30.00;  W.,  12.50;  T.,  6.20;  B.,  2.30.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  Nova  Scotia  and  Saskatchewan  northward; 
winters  from  North  Carolina  southward  to  the  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter;  occasionally  inland. 


FIG.  28.     DOUBLE-CRESTED  CORMORANT. 

These  are  the  common  cormorants  on  our  coast  in  winter,  where  they  are  often 
seen  perched  on  stakes  set  by  the  fishermen  to  hold  their  nets  or  to  mark  the  various 
channels  through  the  shallow  sounds.  As  evening  comes  they  congregate  in  flocks 
of  from  ten  to  forty  individuals,  and  in  solid  ranks  go  flying  low  over  the  water 
to  some  favorite  "lump"  of  shell,  or  small  sandy  island,  on  which  to  roost.  One 
evening  early  in  April,  1898,  Pearson  dug  a  hole  in  the  shells  of  a  miniature  island 
in  Wysocking  Bay,  Hyde  County,  where,  lying  concealed,  he  was  enabled  to  watch 
unobserved  the  hundreds  of  cormorants  which  came  there  to  roost.  Without  excep- 
tion the  flocks  all  pitched  in  the  water  a  short  distance  away,  and  later  swam 
leisurely  ashore.  Cormorants  are  much  disliked  by  fishermen,  who  declare  that  the 
birds  enter  their  pound-nets  and  prey  upon  the  valuable  fish. 


M- 

ff  S.?  i  & 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  49 


35.  Phalacrocorax  auritus  floridanus  (And.).    FLORIDA  CORMORANT. 

Description. — Similar  to  the  Double-crested  Cormorant,  but  averaging  smaller.  L.,  21.00 
to  30.00;  W.,  11.25  to  12.50;  T.,  5.50;  B.,  2.10. 

Range. — Breeds  from  North  Carolina  southward;  winters  from  South  Carolina  southward. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  summer;  breeds. 

On  May  25,  1898,  Pearson  discovered  what,  so  far  as  yet  known,  is  the  only 
breeding-colony  of  these  birds  north  of  Florida.  It  is  situated  on  the  shores  of 
Great  Lake  in  Craven  County,  and  at  that  date  contained  one  hundred  and  fifty 
occupied  nests.  Although  the  birds  are  unmolested  by  man,  their  numbers  since 
that  date  have  been  slowly  decreasing,  and  in  1908  the  colony  numbered  only  one 
hundred  and  twenty  nests.  In  1911,  however,  they  seemed  to  have  regained  their 
former  numbers,  and  no  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  nests  were  counted 
by  H.  H.  Brimley.  In  1910  and  1911  the  colony  divided,  the  two  sections  being 
situated  about  five  miles  apart  on  opposite  sides  of  the  lake. 

The  nests  are  usually  placed  in  cypress  trees  growing  in  the  water  at  a  short 
distance  from  the  heavily  wooded  shore.  The  site,  however,  has  been  changed  four 
times  in  the  past  twelve  years,  once  from  the  north  to  the  east  side  of  the  lake,  a 
distance  of  five  miles,  and  again  in  1908  to  the  southwest  side,  probably  three  miles 
farther  away.  In  this  last  locality  the  majority  of  the  nests  were  placed  in  pine 
trees  growing  on  the  shore.  Since  then  the  colony  has  moved  twice  more,  each 
move  being  into  cypress  trees  standing  in  the  water.  The  frequent  change  of 
place  appears  to  be  occasioned  by  the  fact  that  a  few  years  occupancy  by  the  birds 
kills  the  trees  in  which  they  nest. 

The  food  of  these  Cormorants  must  consist  largely  of  eels,  as  eel-remains  are 
constantly  found  in  the  nests  and  on  the  limbs  of  the  trees,  and  the  young  when 
alarmed  disgorge  copiously  fragments  of  partly  digested  eels.  In  the  summer  of 
1905  H.  H.  Brimley  saw  an  immature  bird  disgorge  a  portion  of  a  large  water- 
snake  (Natrix  taxispilota). 

A  flock  of  about  fifty  of  these  birds  was  seen  by  Pearson  one  evening  in  June, 
1899,  coming  to  roost  in  Jones's  Millpond  in  Carteret  County.  Perhaps  this 
number  also  roost  each  summer  in  the  trees  of  Orton  Pond,  Brunswick  County. 
Probably  these  are  all  unmated  birds. 

11.    FAMILY  PELECANID>E.        PELICANS 

Only  one  genus  occurs  in  North  America.  The  pelicans  are  large,  aquatic  birds 
with  enormous  bills.  The  broad  space  between  the  forks  of  the  lower  mandible 
is  occupied  by  a  huge  sack  or  bag  of  naked  skin,  which  the  bird  uses  when  fishing, 
somewhat  after  the  manner  of  a  scoop-net. 

Genus  Pelecanus  (Linn.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Color  mainly  white,  with  black  wing-quills.     White  Pelican. 
1.  Color  grayish  and  brownish.     Brown  Pelican. 


50  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


36.  Pelecanus  erythrorhynchos  (Gmel).    WHITE  PELICAN. 

Ads.  in  nuptial  plumage. — White,  more  or  less  straw-color  on  breast  and  wing-coverts;  wing- 
quills  chiefly  black;  occipital  crest  white  or  straw-color;  a  horny  prominence  on  the  culmen- 
Post-nuptial  plumage. — Similar,  but  occiput  of  short  gray  feathers,  no  horny  ridge  on  bill. 
Ads.  in  winter. — Similar,  but  occiput  white.  Im. — Similar,  but  lesser  wing-coverts  and  top 
of  the  head  brownish  gray.  L.,  60.00;  W.,  22.00;  Tar.,  4.50;  B.,  14.00.  (Chap.,  Birds  of 
E.  N.  A.) 

-Range. — Temperate  North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States;  winters 
from  the  Gulf  States  southward. 
-  Range  in  North  Carolina. — Occasional  during  the  migrations. 


FIG.  29.     WHITE  PELICAN. 

This  great  bird  is  of  very  rare  occurrence  in  North  Carolina.  We  have  in  fact 
only  three  records  for  the  State,  which  are  as  follows:  At  Raleigh,  one  was  shot 
on  the  State  carp-ponds,  May  12,  1884,  by  J.  H.  Coover.  In  Buncombe  County, 
a  flock  of  forty  was  seen  on  the  French  Broad  River  in  May,  1889;  five  of  these 
were  shot,  and  two  passed  into  the  possession  of  Cairns.  One  was  taken  by  J.  H. 
Bigham  near  Sloan's  Ferry  on  the  Catawba  River,  October  2,  1907  (Charlotte 
Evening  Chronicle,  October  3,  1907.) 

37.  Pelecanus  occidentalis  (Linn.).    BROWN  PELICAN. 

Ads.  in  breeding  plumage. — Top  of  head  white,  sometimes  straw-yellow  like  a  spot  on  upper 
breast;  line  down  either  side  of  breast  white;  hindhead,  neck  and  a  spot  on  foreneck  seal-brown; 
sides  and  back  silvery  gray  bordered  by  brownish  black;  scapulars,  wing-coverts,  secondaries, 
and  tail  silvery  gray;  primaries  black;  underparts  dark  blackish  brown  narrowly  streaked  with 
white.  Ads.  after  the  breeding  season. — Similar,  but  with  hindhead  and  whole  neck  white,  more 
or  less  tinged  with  straw-yellow.  Im. — Above  grayish  brown  margined  with  paler;  chest 
brownish,  belly  white.  L.,  50.00;  W.,  19.50;  Tar.,  2.65;  B.,  11.00.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Ranges  in  summer  from  North  Carolina  southward.  Breeds  from  South  Carolina 
southward  to  Brazil. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — 'Sounds  of  the  coastal  region  regularly  in  summer. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


51 


The  Brown  Pelican  is  in  appearance  by  far  the  most  conspicuous  summer  bird 
of  our  coast.  Being  over  four  feet  in  length,  and  with  an  expanse  of  wings  of  six 
and  one-half  feet,  it  presents  an  object  attracting  the  attention  of  the  most  casual 
observer.  When  fishing,  the  Brown  Pelican  flies  slowly  along  at  an  altitude  of 
from  twenty  to  thirty  feet,  and  dives  for  its  prey  with  a  heavy  splash.  Below  the 
bill  hangs  a  pouch  capable  of  holding,  when  fully  distended,  about  four  gallons  of 
water.  Into  this  capacious  receptacle  are  gathered  the  unfortunate  fish  which  go 
to  make  up  a  Pelican's  dinner.  Without  rising  from  the  sea,  the  bird  forces  the 


PIG.  30.     BROWN  PELICAN. 


water  from  its  mouth  by  contracting  the  pouch,  and,  with  bill  pointed  upward  at 
a  sharp  angle,  the  fish  are  forced  downward.  Fish  weighing  two  or  three  pounds 
are  said  to  be  eaten  by  this  bird,  but  usually  smaller  ones  are  chosen.  Our  Pelican 
often  goes  fishing  by  himself;  but  at  times,  when  the  run  of  fish  is  good,  a  number 
of  birds  may  be  seen  engaged  in  securing  their  livelihood  in  the  same  neighborhood. 
During  flight  from  one  resting  or  feeding  ground  to  another  they  often  go  in  flocks 
of  from  four  to  a  dozen  birds.  They  proceed  low  over  the  water,  their  wing-tips 
almost  touching  the  rolling  waves.  After  sailing  a  short  distance,  the  leader  slightly 
rises  in  order  to  avoid  striking  the  water,  and  vigorously  flaps  his  wings  for  several 


52 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


strokes.  The  second  bird  follows  the  example,  and  the  movement  is  gradually 
imitated  along  the  column.  By  the  time  the  rear  bird  has  received  the  impulse  the 
leader  is  generally  sailing  again  near  the  surface.  The  undulating  motion  given  to 
a  long  line  of  Pelicans  by  these  movements  presents  a  spectacle  which  at  a  distance 
suggests  a  brown  sea-serpent  disporting  itself  along  the  crests  of  the  waves. 

As  breeding-birds,  Brown  Pelicans  are  not  known  north  of  Cape  Romain,  South 
Carolina.  Of  recent  years  hundreds  regularly  pass  the  summer  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  small  sandy  islands  lying  in  Pamlico  Sound  between  Ocracoke  and 
Cape  Hatteras,  and  they  occur  scatteringly  on  the  sounds  from  there  to  the  South 
Carolina  line. 


FIG.  31.     MAN-O'-WAE  BIRD. 


12.    FAMILY   FREGAT1D>£.      MAN-O'-WAR   BIRDS 

Genus  Fregata  (Lacep.) 
38.  Fregata  aquila  (Linn.).    MAN-O'-WAR  BIRD. 

Ad.  cf. — Entire  plumage  black,  more  glossy  above;  dilatable  gular  pouch  in  breeding  season 
orange-red  or  carmine.  9 . — Similar,  but  browner;  lesser  wing-coverts  grayish  brown;  breast 
and  upper  belly  white.  Im. — Similar  to  the  9,  but  whole  head  and  neck  white.  L.,  40.00; 
W.,  25.00;  T.,  17.00;  B.,  4.50.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Tropical  and  subtropical  coasts. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Occasional  off  shore  in  coastal  region. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  53 


The  Man-o'-war  Bird,  or  Frigate  Bird,  is  one  of  the  most  marvelous  flyers  in  the 
world.  With  an  expanse  of  wings  of  over  seven  feet,  it  sweeps  the  seas  far  and 
wide  in  quest  of  food,  or  for  mere  diversion.  Its  flight  is  graceful  beyond  descrip- 
tion, and  at  times  it  will  hang  long  in  the  teeth  of  a  gale,  or  falling  off  before  it 
with  scarcely  a  perceptible  motion  of  the  wing  will  sweep  down  to  the  surface  of 
the  ocean  as  a  swallow  skims  a  summer  millpond.  Its  food  consists  of  fish,  which 
it  not  only  captures  itself,  but  at  times  secures  by  pursuing  various  sea-birds  and 
causing  them  to  disgorge  their  recently  caught  prey. 

On  July  5,  1899,  Pearson  obtained  a  specimen  in  Pamlico  Sound  near  Ocracoke 
Inlet.  It  was  a  splendid  young  male,  measuring  between  wing-tips  seven  feet  and 
seven  inches.  Its  mounted  skin  is  now  preserved  in  the  State  Museum  at  Raleigh. 
This  is  our  first  North  Carolina  record  of  the  Man-o'-war  Bird.  Our  only  other 
record  follows. 

Extract  of  letter  from  Russell  J.  Coles,  Danville,  Va.,  to  Mr.  John  T.  Nichols, 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  New  York  City : 

"On  July  10th,  1917,  I  and  members  of  my  crew  watched  for  some  time  a  Man- 
o'-war  Bird  attempting  to  fly  against  a  heavy  wind  squall.  The  bird  appeared 
very  much  exhausted  as  it  came  in  from  the  sea  against  the  wind,  and  again  and 
again  it  was  beaten  back,  and  it  appeared  that  it  wished  to  light  on  the  boat  and 
at  last,  when  it  appeared  that  it  was  about  to  do  so,  when  one  of  my  crew  struck  at 
it  and  in  dodging  the  blow,  the  bird  fell  in  the  sea  along-side  and  was  lifted  into  the 
boat.  I  kept  it  on  board  for  half  a  day,  and  although  at  first,  it  was  too  weak  to 
show  the  usual  aggressive  spirit  of  its  species,  yet  when  it  became  rested,  it  became 
very  pugnacious  and  struck  at  all  who  approached  it  with  beak  and  wings.  Finally, 
I  released  it  after  measuring  and  photographing,  and  it  flew  away  to  the  south. 
From  tip  to  tip  of  wings,  it  measured  7  feet,  4  inches."  This  incident  occurred 
near  Cape  Lookout. 

V.  ORDER  ANSERES.     LAMELLIROSTRAL  SWIMMERS 

13.    FAMILY  ANATID>£.      DUCKS,  GEESE,  AND  SWANS 

"We  now  come  to  a  group  of  birds  which  excites  in  the  naturalist,  sportsman, 
and  the  general  public  a  greater  degree  of  interest,  perhaps,  than  any  other. 

"A  wedge  of  Wild  Geese  steadily  winging  its  way  through  the  upper  air  currents 
in  spring  or  fall,  the  sudden  noisy  rise  of  a  beautiful  male  Wood  Duck  as  the  angler 
quietly  works  his  way  up  a  woodland  stream,  a  raft  of  sea-ducks  seen  on  sound, 
estuary,  or  at  sea,  the  evening  flight  of  Mallard  or  Black  Duck  from  river  to  pond — 
all  these,  and  more,  are  experiences  at  times  vouchsafed  to  those  who  love  the  out- 
doors and  frequent  the  silent  places.  To  those  who  have  opportunities,  however 
small,  to  seek  these  denizens  of  the  water  and  marsh  with  gun  and  game  bag, 
nothing  else  in  the  way  of  hunting  with  firearms  can  quite  equal  the  joy  of  wild- 
fowling. 

"In  certain  sections  of  North  Carolina  we  are  greatly  favored  with  opportunities 
for  experiences  with  ducks,  geese,  and  swans.  Currituck  Sound  supports  during  the 
winter  months  more  wildfowl,  perhaps,  than  any  other  equal  area  in  eastern  North 


54  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


America.  The  great  Whistling  Swan  occurs  there  regularly  in  hundreds,  if  not 
thousands;  Canada  Geese  in  tens  of  thousands,  while  such  raft-ducks  as  Lesser 
Scaup,  and  Redhead  pass  the  winter  there  in  incredible  numbers.  The  Canvas- 
back  is  more  or  less  common,  though  much  more  rare  than  a  few  years  ago,  and 
the  same  may  be  said  in  regard  to  the  Ruddy  Duck.  The  other  sea-ducks,  and  the 
Brant,  are  only  stragglers  on  this  fresh-water  sound,  but  the  river-ducks  that  do 
not  raft,  such  as  Mallard,  Black  Duck,  Baldpate,  both  eastern  Teals,  Gadwall  and 
Pintail,  are  common  feeders  on  the  marsh  ponds  and  creeks. 

"On  Pamlico  and  Core  sounds  geese  and  brant  are  very  numerous.  The  raft- 
ducks  on  these  lower  sounds  are  mostly  Redhead  and  Scaup,  with  large  numbers 
of  Scoters,  Mergansers,  Buffleheads,  Old  Squaws,  Lesser  Scaup,  and  a  few  of  the 
fresh-water  ducks,  the  abundance  and  admixture  of  species  depending  on  the  charac- 
ter of  the  locality.  On  the  inside  shoals  and  reefs,  from  Gull  Shoal  Island  south 
and  west  to  Core  Sound,  more  geese  and  brant  gather,  perhaps,  than  at  any  other 
point  on  the  coast  of  the  United  States. 

"The  smaller  sounds,  the  great  estuaries — with  their  creeks  and  marshes — the- 
rivers,  lakes,  and  ponds  of  the  eastern  section  of  the  State,  are  the  winter  homes 
and  feeding  grounds  for  many  species,  the  varying  natural  conditions  and  food 
supply  governing  their  abundance  from  day  to  day  and  from  year  to  year. 

"Of  late  years,  an  acquired  habit  of  many  of  the  fowl  inhabiting  these  waters 
is  doing  more  to  preserve  their  numbers  than  any  legal  or  other  artificial  method 
yet  attempted.  This  is  the  custom  of  feeding  at  night  and  leaving  at  dawn  to 
spend  the  day  on  the  open  sea,  where  the  proximity  of  the  ocean  makes  this  refuge 
available,  or  on  some  other  open,  deep-water  sanctuary  when  the  sea  is  too  distant. 

"On  the  broad  waters,  ducks,  geese,  and  swan  are  shot  mainly  from  batteries,  the 
old-style  coffin-box  outfit  having  given  way  in  some  localities  to  the  'sit-up'  battery. 
This  latter  has  a  wing  arrangement  similar  to  the  old  style,  but,  as  the  name  implies, 
the  box  itself  is  of  such  size  and  shape,  and  so  arranged  and  ballasted,  as  to  enable 
the  gunner  to  await  the  fowl  in  a  sitting  position  instead  of  lying  flat  on  his  back. 
The  decoys,  two  or  three  hundred  in  number,  are  arranged  as  formerly,  mostly  to- 
the  leeward  of  the  box. 

"On  the  marsh,  and  on  many  of  the  shooting  points  on  the  creeks  and  rivers,, 
bush  or  reed  blinds  are  used,  with  a  much  smaller  stand  of  decoys.  When  Mallard 
or  Black  Duck  are  flying  in  broken  bunches,  from  half  a  dozen  to  twelve  or  fifteen 
decoys  are  often  sufficient,  particularly  if  two  or  three  live  birds  are  added  to  the 
display.  In  goose  shooting  from  blinds,  live  decoys  are  becoming  more  and  more 
common.  Wooden  or  other  artificial  decoys  for  geese  are  extremely  cumbersome 
to  handle,  and  most  of  those  supplied  are  of  doubtful  utility.  Two  or  three  good 
talking  'honkers'  are  worth  more  than  a  boatload  of  wooden  'idols.' 

"On  Pamlico  Sound,  from  a  little  above  Cape  Hatteras  down  to  Core  Sound, 
box  blinds  are  mostly  used.  Some  gunners  sink  a  'goose  box'  on  the  dry  shoals,  in 
close  proximity  to  the  water,  and  stake  out  their  live  decoys  in  the  shallow  water 
close  at  hand.  Occasionally  a  'rolling  blind'  may  be  found.  This  is  a  box  on 
rollers,  and  is  set  up  on  the  dry  shoal  well  away  from  the  decoys.  When  geese; 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  55 


come  in,  the  blind,  which  has  no  bottom,  is  carefully  and  slowly  worked  forward 
until  within  shot  of  the  geese.  The  stationary  box-blinds  are  three  and  a  half  or 
four  feet  square  and  are  supported  by  posts  five  or  six  feet  above  the  water.  These 
are  usually  fringed  with  reeds  or  rushes  around  the  upper  edge.  Placed,  as  they 
are,  at  the  first  of  the  season,  the  fowl  soon  become  accustomed  to  them,  and  feed 
near  without  fear. 

"It  is  indeed  an  interesting  experience  to  spend  the  greater  part  of  a  day  alone 
in  one  of  these  frail  structures,  with  a  half  gale  blowing  out  of  the  frozen  north 
and  the  attendant  boatmen  drifting  a  mile  or  more  away.  A  large  stand  of  wooden 
decoys  is  used  from  these  blinds,  a  hundred  and  fifty  ducks  and  fifty  brant  forming 
an  average  outfit.  The  fowl  that  fall  to  the  gunner's  skill  are  later  picked  up  by 
the  attendant.  Often  a  few  live  geese  are  used  in  conjunction  with  the  'idols/  and 
these  prove  very  effective  when  any  wild  geese  are  flying.  Geese  and  brant  are  the 
fowl  mostly  killed  from  this  type  of  blind,  the  salt-water  ducks  frequenting  this 
part  of  the  sound  feeding  in  deeper  water. 

"  They  have  a  saying  in  the  Cape  Hatteras  region,  'Weather  to  kill  fowl  is  weather 
to  kill  men!'  This,  however,  must  not  be  taken  too  literally.  My  own  experience, 
and  that  of  many  old  wildfowlers  with  whom  I  have  talked,  is  that  medium  bad 
weather  is  much  more  likely  to  be  productive  of  results  than  the  extremes  of  wind 
and  cold.  One  day  I  remember  being  in  a  blind  during  a  howling  northeast  gale, 
when  a  single,  solitary  Brant  made  up  the  total  of  my  bag,  though  thousands  were 
feeding  within  sight  the  whole  of  the  time  I  remained  in  the  blind. 

"Some  cloudiness,  a  modicum  of  wind,  with  a  drizzle  of  rain  or  light  snow,  and 
one  need  not  wish  for  more  wind,  cold,  or  downfall  to  help  out  his  bag.  Some  days 
just  happen  to  be  good,  irrespective  of  the  weather,  while  on  others  the  fowl  will 
not  draw  to  any  character  of  decoys,  no  matter  how  favorable  the  conditions  seem. 

"Wildfowl  are  most  uncertain  in  their  day  movements,  and  the  only  general  rule 
that  I  can  advance  that  may  be  almost  always  depended  on  is  that,  on  good  shoot- 
ing grounds,  there  are  strong  probabilities  of  excellent  sport  during  the  first  few 
days  after  the  season  opens.  There  may  be,  and  often  are,  many  good  days  later 
on,  but  no  one  can  foretell  them,  and  it  is  the  hunter  who  goes  early  and  often  who 
is  most  likely  to  meet  with  reward." — H.  H.  BRIMLEY. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Neck  not  shorter  than  body;  color  white.     (Swans.) 

1.  Neck  shorter  than  body.     See  2. 

2.  Tarsus  reticulate  all  around,  not  shorter  than  middle  toe  without  claw.     (Geese.)     See  3. 

2.  Tarsus  scutellate  in  front,  shorter  than  middle  toe  without  claw.     (Ducks.)     See  5. 

3.  Bill  and  feet  black;  head  more  or  less  black.     Branta. 

3.  Bill  and  feet  pale;  head  not  black.     See  4. 

4.  Bill  very  stout,  its  depth  at  base  more  than  half  its  length;  color  largely  white.     Chen. 

4.  Bill  smaller,  its  depth  at  base  not  half  its  length;  color  mostly  brownish  gray.     Anser. 

5.  Bill  narrow,  the  edges  of  the  mandibles  serrated.     (Fish  Ducks.)     See  6. 

5.  Bill  broad,  more  or  less  of  the  ordinary  duck  shape      See  6a. 

6.  Serrations   of   both   mandibles   very   conspicuous,    toothlike,    strongly   recurved   at   tips. 

Mergus. 

6.  Serrations  of  both  mandibles  short,  blunt,  and  not  recurved  at  tips.     Lophodytes. 
6a.  Lower  portion  of  tarsus  not  scutellate  in  front.     (Tree  Ducks.)     Dendrocygna. 
6a.  Lower  portion  of  tarsus  scutellate  in  front.     See  7. 


56  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


7.  Hind  toe  without  a  distinct  membranous  lobe.     (River  Ducks.)     See  8. 

7.  Hind  toe  with  a  broad  membranous  lobe.     (Sea  Ducks.)     See  15. 

8.  Bill  spoon-shaped,  very  narrow  at  base  and  broad  at  tip.     Spatula. 

8.  Bill  not  spoon-shaped.     See  9. 

9.  Tail-feathers  broad,  rounded  at  tips.     Male  with  a  large  crest.     Aix. 
9.  Tail-feathers  narrow,  rather  pointed;  no  crest.     See  10. 

10.  Tail  pointed,   the  middle  feathers  much  longer  than  the  others.     Tail  of   16  feathers. 
Dafila. 

10.  Tail  not  much  pointed,  middle  feathers  not  much  longer  than  the  rest.     See  11. 

11.  Culmen  longer  than  middle  toe  without  claw.     See  12. 

11.  Culmen  shorter  than  middle  toe  without  claw.     See  14. 

12.  Speculum  violet,  bordered  with  black.     Length  more  than  20.     Anas. 

12.  Speculum  green;  length  less  than  20.     (Teal.)     See  13. 

13.  Wing-coverts  sky-blue.     Querquedula. 

13.  Wing-coverts  leaden  gray  without  blue.     Nettion. 

14.  Lamellae  of  bill  very  fine,  more  than  30  visible  from  outside.     Bill  not  shorter  than  head. 

Chaulelasmus. 

14.  Lamellae  coarser,  less  than  15  visible  externally.     Bill  shorter  than  head.     Mareca. 

15.  Tail  more  than  half  length  of  wing,  its  feathers  with  narrow  webs,  and  very  stiff  shafts, 

their  bases  hardly  concealed  by  the  very  short  tail- coverts.     Erismatura. 

15.  Tail-feathers  not  as  above,  their  bases  well  hidden  by  the  coverts.     See  16. 

16.  Feathering  on  forehead  or  lores  reaching  in  front  to  or  beyond  hind  end  of  nostril.     Bill 

swollen  at  base  and  with  large  frontal  processes.     No  speculum.     Somateria. 

16.  Feathering  on  lores  or  forehead  not  reaching  forward  of  hind  edge  of  nostril.     See  17. 

17.  Graduation  of  bill  less  than  length  of  bill  from  nostril;  width  of  nail  of  bill  not  more  than 

one-third  width  of  bill  at  middle.     Marila. 

17.  Graduation  of  tail  much  more  than  length  of  bill  from  nostril.     See  18. 

18.  Bill  swollen  at  base,  with  a  large  fused  nail,  and  no  frontal  appendages.     Oidemia. 

18.  Bill  ordinary,  not  swollen  nor  appendaged.     See  19. 

19.  Nail  of  bill  large,  fused.     Tail  in  male  with  its  middle  feathers  very  much  lengthened. 

No  speculum.     Harelda. 

19.  Nail  of  bill  narrow,  distinct,  tail  moderate.     See  20. 

20.  Nostril  anterior,  its  front  much  nearer  to  the  tip  of  the  bill  than  to  the  loral  feathers. 

Eyes  yellow.     Clang ula. 

20.  Nostril  sub-basal,  its  front  much  nearer  to  the  loral  feathers  than  to  tip  of  bill.     Eyes 
brown.     Charitonetta. 

Genus  Mergus  (Linn.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

Contains  two  North  American  species: 

1.  Nostril  nearer  middle  of  bill  than  base.     Merganser. 
1.  Nostril  near  base  of  bill.     Red-breasted  Merganser. 

39.  Mergus  americanus  (Cass.).     MERGANSER;  SHELDRAKE. 

Ad.  cf  • — Whole  head  and  upper  neck  glossy  greenish  black;  hindneck,  secondaries,  lesser 
wing-coverts,  and  ends  of  greater  ones  white;  back  black,  rump  and  tail  ashy  gray;  breast  and 
belly  white,  delicately  tinged  with  salmon.  Ad.  9  and  Im. — Chin  and  upper  throat  white; 
lower  throat  and  entire  top  of  the  head  rufous-brown;  rest  of  upperparts  and  tail  ashy  gray; 
speculum  white;  breast  and  belly  white.  L.,  25.00;  W.,  10.50;  Tar.,  1.86;  B.,  from  N.  1.50. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  chiefly  in  Canada,  wintering  in  most  portions  of  the  United 
States  and  southern  Canada. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter,  but  may  appear  at  that  season  where- 
ever  there  are  large  bodies  of  water. 

The  Sheldrakes  are  inhabitants  of  the  trout  streams  and  lakes  of  Canada,  well 
known  to  the  voyageurs  of  those  inland  waters.  Here  they  breed,  hiding  their  nests 
in  the  hollows  of  trees,  and,  it  is  said,  taking  their  young  to  the  earth  in  their  bills 
or  sometimes  allowing  them  to  fall,  the  little  ones  working  their  wings  to  break 
the  force  of  the  descent.  In  feeding,  they  swim  rapidly  beneath  the  surface,  often 
in  the  face  of  a  strong  current,  and  grasp  their  prey  with  their  long  serrated  bills. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  57 


As  the  fresh  waters  of  the  North  become  frozen  in  autumn,  the  Mergansers  move 
gradually  southward  and  frequent  mainly  the  large  open  bodies  of  our  bays  and 
sounds.  Feeding,  as  they  apparently  do,  almost  entirely  upon  fish,  their  flesh  is 
not  greatly  esteemed  for  food,  and  hence  the  birds  are  seldom  shot  by  gunners  if 
other  fowl  are  to  be  found  in  numbers.  This  does  not  appear  to  be  an  abundant 
species  in  North  Carolina.  While  Pearson  was  a  guest  at  the  Currituck  Shooting 
Club  in  March,  1904,  his  host,  W.  T.  Post,  of  New  York,  shot  a  pair  of  these  hand- 
some birds.  For  thirty  years  Mr.  Post  had  been  shooting  in  Currituck  Sound,  but 
could  not  recall  having  previously  seen  them.  The  Sheldrake,  however,  is  not  so 
rare  in  the  lower  sounds,  and  may  frequently  be  found  in  the  markets  at  New  Bern. 
Cairns  reported  it  as  not  an  uncommon  spring  transient  in  Buncombe  County. 
H.  H.  Brimley  secured  a  female  at  White  Lake,  in  Bladen  County,  during  Decem- 
ber, 1911. 

It  has  many  local  names,  such  as  Goosander,  Saw-Duck,  Saw-Bill,  Breakhorn, 
and  Fisherman  Duck. 

40.  Mergus  serrator  (Linn.).     RED-BREASTED  MERGANSER. 

Ad.  cf. — -Whole  head  and  throat  black,  more  greenish  above;  a  white  ring  around  neck;  a 
broad  cinnamon-rufous  band  with  black  streaks  on  the  upper  breast  and  sides  of  lower  neck;  lesser 
wing-coverts,  tips  of  greater  ones,  secondaries,  breast  and  belly  white;  rump  and  sides  finely 
barred  with  black  and  white.  Ad.  9  and  Im. — Top  and  back  of  head  grayish  brown  washed 
with  cinnamon-rufous;  sides  of  head  and  throat  cinnamon-rufous,  paler  on  throat;  rest  of 
underparts  white;  back  and  tail  ashy  gray;  speculum  white.  L.,  22.00;  W.,  9.00;  Tar.,  1.70; 
B.  from  N.,  1.80.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  part  of  Northern  Hemisphere. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Chiefly  coastwise  in  winter. 


PIG.  32.     RED-BREASTED  MERGANSER   (adult  male). 

Slightly  smaller  than  the  preceding  species  and,  to  the  minds  of  some,  not  so 
richly  colored,  the  common  "Fisherman"  Duck  of  our  coast  may  nevertheless  lay 
claim  to  being  a  most  handsome  fowl.  Its  summer  home  is  in  much  the  same 
region  as  the  Sheldrake,  but,  unlike  that  bird,  it  makes  its  nest  on  the  ground. 
While  shooting  over  brant  decoys  in  Pamlico  Sound  we  have  noticed  that  although 


58  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


other  ducks  occasionally  draw  near  with  apparent  intention  of  alighting  among 
them,  these  mergansers  always  settled  at  some  little  distance  away.  In  fact,  their 
actions  on  such  occasions  have  even  left  a  doubt  with  us  as  to  whether  the  decoys 
were  really  the  occasion  of  their  approach.  In  some  places,  however,  decoys  are 
specially  painted  to  be  used  in  hunting  this  bird  when  other  ducks  become  scarce. 
In  flight  they  present  an  easy  mark,  but  when  resting  on  the  water  it  is  a  far  more 
difficult  task  to  shoot  them,  so  low  do  they  sit  in  the  water.  They  arrive  on  the 
North  Carolina  coast  in  October  and  usually  depart  in  April. 

The  flesh  is  strong-tasting  and  fishy  and  not  highly  regarded  as  food,  but  a  great 
many  are  killed,  nevertheless,  during  the  early  spring,  which  is  the  season  of  their 
greatest  abundance.  There  is  a  saying  on  Cape  Hatteras,  "One  old  Fisherman 
Duck  will  make  nine  gallons  of  soup  " — a  tribute  indeed  to  the  potency  of  the  highly 
flavored  flesh. 

Sherman  and  H.  H.  Brimley  observed  Red-breasted  Mergansers  daily  for  a  week 
on  White  Lake  in  Bladen  County  during  December,  1910.  On  one  occasion  several 
stooled  to  Black  Duck  decoys. 

Genus  Lophodytes  (Reichenb.) 
41.  Lophodytes  cucullatus  (Linn.}.    HOODED  MERGANSER. 

Ad.  o". — Front  part  of  large  circular  crest  black;  remaining  part  white,  bordered  by  black; 
rest  of  head,  the  neck  and  back  black;  breast  and  belly  white;  sides  cinnamon-rufous,  finely 
barred  with  black.  Ad.  9  . — Upper  throat  white;  head,  neck  and  upper  breast  grayish  brown, 
more  or  less  tinged  with  cinnamon,  especially  on  the  small  crest:  lower  breast  and  belly  white; 


FIG.  33.     HOODED  MERGANSER  (adult  male). 

sides  grayish  brown;  back  fuscous.  Im.  cf. — Similar,  but  throat  blackish.  L.,  17.50;  W.,  7.50; 
Tar.,  1.10;  B.,  1.45.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  locally  throughout  its  range,  but  quite  rare  and  local  in 
the  breeding  season  in  the  South. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter,  most  common  on  the  coast. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  59 


This,  the  smallest  of  the  North  American  Mergansers,  is  an  exceedingly  striking 
bird.  The  fan-shaped  crest  of  finely  pointed  feathers  has  given  rise  to  the  name 
"Hairyhead,"  by  which  it  is  widely  known.  In  the  male  this  crest  is  white  with 
a  black  outer  border,  thus  furnishing  a  conspicuous  mark  for  identification  even 
at  a  distance.  Although  known  to  breed  occasionally  in  the  South,  its  nest  is  seldom 
met  with  in  eastern  North  America  below  New  York  and  Indiana.  In  the  autumn 
they  may  be  found  in  pairs  or  small  flocks  on  the  lakes  and  millponds.  In  Curri- 
tuck  Sound  they  gather  each  year  in  considerable  numbers,  as  well  as  in  the  bays 
and  river  mouths  farther  south,  seeming  to  shun  at  all  times  the  open  sounds. 
Unlike  our  other  mergansers,  they  apparently  care  but  little  for  swift-running 
streams.  Their  food  consists  to  some  extent  of  seeds  and  roots,  and  at  times  their 
flesh  is  very  palatable.  Specimens  were  taken  at  New  Bern,  January  8,  1885; 
Raleigh,  November  24,  1888,  and  January  31,  1908  (H.  H.  Brimley);  Guilford 
County,  April  8,  1892  (Pearson);  and  Dare  County,  December  19,  1908  (Bishop). 

In  December,  1910,  Sherman  and  H.  H.  Brimley  saw  several  small  bunches, 
aggregating  from  fifty  to  a  hundred  individuals,  on  White  Lake  in  Bladen  County. 
These  flocks  were  in  evidence  daily  for  a  week,  and  the  birds  stooled — not  very 
readily,  however — to  Black  Duck  decoys.  Several  specimens  were  secured. 

In  November  and  December,  1911,  this  species  was  constantly  seen  on  Lake  Ellis, 
and  bunches  of  one  or  two  dozen  birds  were  often  noticed.  In  fact,  this  was  the 
most  plentiful  duck  on  the  lake,  next  to  Mallard  and  Black  Duck. 

In  January,  1911,  H.  H.  Brimley  observed  five  on  Lake  Ellis,  feeding  by  diving 
in  water  not  more  than  ten  inches  in  depth.  Frequently  three  out  of  the  five  were 
under  water  at  the  same  time.  He  paddled  up  to  within  thirty  yards  of  them 
before  they  took  flight. 

Genus  Anas  (Linn.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Speculum  edged  with  white,  sexes  unlike.     Mallard. 

1.  Speculum  without  white,  sexes  very  similar.     Black  Duck. 

42.  Anas  platyrhynchos  (Linn.).    MALLARD. 

Ad.  cf . — Whole  head  and  throat  gtossy  greenish  or  bluish  black;  a  white  ring  around  the 
neck;  breast  rich  chestnut;  belly  grayish  white,  finely  marked  with  wavy  black  lines;  under 
tail-coverts  black;  upper  back  dark  grayish  brown;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  black;  four 
middle  tail-feathers  recurved;  speculum  rich  purple,  bordered  at  the  base  and  tip  by  narrow 
bands  of  black  and  white.  Ad.  9  • — Top  and  sides  of  head  streaked  with  fuscous  and  buffy; 
back  fuscous,  the  feathers  with  internal  rings  or  loops  and  sometimes  borders  of  pale  ochraceous 
buffy;  speculum  as  in  the  preceding;  breast  and  belly  ochraceous  buffy,  mottled  with  dusky 
grayish  b.own.  L.,  23.00;  W.,  11.00;  Tar.,  1.75;  B.,  2.25.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Whole  of  Northern  Hemisphere,  breeding  from  the  northern  half  of  the  United 
States  northward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter. 

The  most  widely  known  duck  of  the  Northern  Hemisphere  is  the  Mallard. 
Wherever  grassy  lakes,  millponds,  or  sluggish  streams  occur,  it  is  likely  to  be 
found.  Breeding  usually  in  the  North,  that  great  nursery  of  wildfowl,  Mallards 
reach  the  South  upon  the  approach  of  winter  and  afford  excellent  shooting.  In 
the  brackish  water  marshes  and  in  the  rice-field  country  of  the  Carolinas  they 


60  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


congregate  in  great  numbers.  Being  universally  esteemed  as  choice  birds  for  the 
table,  it  is  little  wonder  that  this  species  has  long  been  domesticated.  Our  tame 
ducks,  however,  rarely  exhibit  the  fine  appearance  of  plumage  and  activities  so 
characteristic  of  their  wild  kindred.  The  Mallard  is  supposed  not  to  nest  in  North 
Carolina,  although  one  need  not  be  greatly  surprised  to  find  a  pair  of  cripples  thus 
engaged.  A  reliable  farmer  of  Guilford  County  reported  that  he  found  a  Mallard's 
egg  late  in  the  spring  of  1909  on  a  creek  bank  much  frequented  by  the  birds  just 
before  their  departure  for  the  season.  The  weight  of  a  wild  Mallard  is  about  two 
and  one-half  pounds,  and  exceptionally  large  and  well-conditioned  specimens  will 
sometimes  tip  the  scales  at  three  pounds  or  more. 


FIG.  34.     MALLARD    (adult  male). 

A  favorite  among  fresh-water  duck  shooters,  the  Mallard  comes  readily  to  decoys, 
but  usually  it  is  a  suspicious  bird,  and  the  blind  and  the  decoys  should  be  properly 
placed  and  the  gunner  well  hidden  and  motionless  to  insure  success. 

43.  Anas  rubripes  (Brewster).    BLACK  DUCK. 

Ads. — Top  of  head  rich  fuscous,  slightly  streaked  with  pale  buffy;  sides  of  the  head  and 
throat  pale  buffy,  thickly  streaked  with  blackish;  rest  of  underparts  fuscous-brown,  the 
feathers  all  bordered  by  ochraceous-buff;  back  slightly  darker  and  narrowly  margined  with 
buffy;  speculum  rich  purple,  bordered  by  black,  and,  at  the  end  only,  narrowly  by  white. 
L.,  22.00;  W.,  11.00;  Tar.,  1.75;  B.,  2.20. 

Remarks. — Always  to  be  distinguished  from  the  female  Mallard  by  its  darker  colors  and 
smaller  amount  of  white  in  the  wing. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  somewhat  more  southerly  than  the  Mallard. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter,  and  apparently  also  breeds  in  portions 
of  the  coastal  region. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


61 


The  Black  Duck  is  another  favorite  of  the  fowler.  It  inhabits  the  coast  region 
in  great  numbers,  usually  being  found  either  singly  or  in  small  flocks.  They  feed 
much  at  night,  and  in  their  quest  for  food  shovel  the  mud  about  so  vigorously  that 
the  bottom  when  exposed  by  daylight  often  presents  the  appearance  of  having  been 
visited  by  a  drove  of  rooting  hogs. 

It  is  usually  a  far  shyer  bird  than  the  Mallard  and  very  much  more  suspicious  of 
a  blind  and  stand  of  decoys.  On  a  certain  shooting  ground  familiar  to  the  writers, 
where  Black  Ducks  feed  at  night  by  thousands,  the  birds  that  come  to  the  decoys 
have  a  habit  of  circling  over  the  stool  several  times  before  deciding  to  alight.  Many 
a  time  the  crouching  hunter  watching  a  bunch  come  in  hears  the  measured  wing- 


FIG.  35.     BLACK  DUCK. 

strokes  overhead  suddenly  break  into  a  louder  and  quicker,  whish,  whish,  whish, 
as  the  wary  birds,  noting  some  suspicious  object  or  movement,  start  to  "  climb  "  into 
the  safer  air-levels  above.  It  takes  a  quick  jump  and  a  quicker  shot  to  down  a  wise 
old  Black  Duck  under  such  conditions. 

The  following  remarks  by  J.  C.  Philipp  are  quoted  by  Brewster  in  his  article  on 
" The  Red-legged  Duck  "  in  The  Auk  of  July,  1910,  pp.  328-329 :  "  While  at  Curri- 
tuck  last  Christmas  I  was  very  much  struck  by  the  preponderance  in  our  bags  of 
very  large  winter  (black)  ducks.  I  weighed  a  large  number  and  many  went  six 
pounds  to  the  pair.  I  shot  numbers  of  Black  Ducks  in  the  same  region  twelve  years 
ago,  and  then  we  were  always  surprised  to  see  any  of  these  big  ducks.  Gunners 
have  spoken  to  me  of  the  same  thing — that  is,  a  change  in  the  type  of  Black  Duck 
during  the  last  few  years  at  Currituck." 


62  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Like  the  Mallard,  this  species  appears  each  year  to  be  acquiring  more  wisdom 
in  the  matter  of  avoiding  its  human  enemies.  Few  marks  are  more  difficult  to  the 
gunner  than  a  Black  Duck  when  it  springs  suddenly  from  the  water  and  begins 
climbing  rapidly  upward.  Seldom  does  this  wary  bird  today  present  a  straight- 
away shot.  Repeated  rumors  come  from  the  North  Carolina  coast  that  the  wild 
Black  Duck  breeds  sparingly  in  that  region,  but  until  the  present  time  it  has  been 
found  impossible  for  us  to  have  these  statements  verified  with  specimens,  or  by  the 
observations  of  ornithologists. 

Jasper  White,  writing  from  Waterlily,  N.  C.,  in  Forest  and  Stream  for  August  6, 
1910,  remarks:  "We  often  see  young  Black  Ducks,  Wood  Ducks,  and  Mallards." 
Black  Ducks  arrive  in  North  Carolina  in  October  and  depart  in  March  and  April. 

Genus  Chaulelasmus  (Bonap.) 
44.  Chaulelasmus  streperus  (Linn.}.    GADWALL. 

Ad.  <?. — Top  of  head  streaked  with  rufous-brown  and  black;  sides  of  head  and  neck  pale 
buffy,  thickly  streaked  or  spotted  with  black;  breast  and  neck  all  around  black,  each  feather 
with  a  border  and  an  internal  ring  of  white,  giving  the  plumage  a  beautifully  scaled  appear- 
ance; belly  white  or  grayish;  rump,  upper  and  under  tail-coverts  black;  lesser  wing-coverts 
chestnut.  Ad.  ? . — -Head  and  throat  as  in  male;  back  fuscous  margined  with  buffy;  breast 


FIG.   36.     GADWALL. 

and  sides  ochraceous-buffy,  thickly  spotted  with  blackish;  belly  and  under  tail-coverts  white, 
more  or  less  thickly  spotted  with  blackish;  little  or  no  chestnut  on  wing-coverts;  speculum  ashy 
gray  and  white;  axillars  and  under  wing-coverts  pure  white.  L.,  19.50;  W.,  10.40;  Tar.,  1.55; 
B.,  1.70.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.} 

Range. — Nearly  the  whole  world,  breeding  in  America  from  the  northern  United  States 
northward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Coastal  region  in  winter. 

The  "Gray  Duck"  does  not  appear  to  be  a  very  abundant  species,  and  par- 
ticularly is  this  the  case  along  the  Atlantic  coast.  A  good  many  are  shot  each 
season  in  the  Dakotas  and  elsewhere  in  the  interior/  but  they  seem  much  more  rare 
in  the  Eastern  States.  Coues  in  1871  reported  them  as  common  in  winter  at  Fort 
Macon.  Bishop  recorded  one  at  Pea  Island,  March  5,  1906. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  63 


The  species  is  well  known  on  Currituck,  where  it  goes  by  the  name  of  "Creek 
Duck,"  though  it  is  by  no  means  abundant  there.  On  Lake  Ellis  it  seems  to  occur 
regularly,  though  not  commonly.  H.  H.  Brimley  killed  one  there  in  the  fall  of 
1906,  and  took  two  more  on  November  1,  1911.  On  this  latter  date  an  additional 
specimen  was  secured  by  another  member  of  the  party. 

As  it  mostly  occurs  with  us  in  the  winter  plumage,  it  is  usually  passed  over  in  a 
bunch  of  dead  fowl  as  a  small  female  Mallard,  and  its  abundance  is,  therefore,  prob- 
ably greater  than  our  scanty  records  would  indicate. 

Genus  Mareca  (Steph.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Head  and  neck  rusty  or  rufous.     European  Widgeon. 
1.  Head  and  neck  whitish  or  creamy.     Baldpate. 

45.  Mareca  penelope  (Linn.).    EUROPEAN  WIDGEON. 

Ad.  c?. — Crown  creamy  buff;  throat  blackish,  rest  of  head  and  neck  rufous-brown;  upper 
breast  vinaceous,  lower  breast  and  belly  white;  sides  and  back  finely  marked  with  wavy  black 
and  white  lines.  Ad.  ? . — Head  and  throat  deep  ochraceous-buff,  finely  streaked  and  barred 
with  black,  darker  above;  upper  breast  and  sides  much  the  same  color,  but  without  black 
markings;  lower  breast  and  belly  white;  back  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  with  small  ochraceous 
buffy  bars;  tertials  fuscous,  bordered  by  deep  ochraceous  bufly,  greater  wing-coverts  brownish 
gray,  usually  whiter  on  the  outer  webs  and  tipped  with  black.  W.,  10.50;  B.,  1.40. 


FIG.  37.     EUROPEAN  WIDGEON    (adult  male). 

Remarks. — The  females  of  the  European  and  American  Widgeons  bear  a  general  resemblance 
to  one  another.  Their  distinguishing  characters  are  mainly  in  the  color  of  the  head  and 
throat,  which  are  browner  in  the  European  species,  and  in  the  color  of  the  greater  wing-coverts, 
which  are  whiter  in  the  American  bird.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  portions  of  Old  World,  occasional  in  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — 'Has  been  taken  in  Currituck  Sound. 

This  wanderer  from  the  Old  World  is  rare  in  the  United  States,  and  when  found 
is  usually  in  company  with  the  American  Widgeon.  It  is  of  accidental  occurrence 


64  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


in  North  Carolina.  One  was  taken  on  the  property  of  the  Currituck  Shooting  Club 
in  1887-  Another  specimen  was  killed  by  L.  C.  Fenno  in  Currituck  Sound,  Novem- 
ber 23,  1900.  (Auk,  Vol.  XIX,  p.  76.) 

46.  Mareca  americana  (Gmel.).    BALD  PATE. 

Description. — Much  like  the  European  Widgeon,  but  head  and  neck  whitish,  speckled  with 
black,  top  of  head  white;  sides  of  head  with  bright  green  patch.  Female  duller.  L.,  18.00- 
22.00;  W.,  10.00-11.00. 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter. 


FIG.   38.     BAL.DPATE   (adult  male). 

The  Baldpate  or  "Widgeon"  is  well  known  to  gunners  of  the  coast,  where  it  is 
found  in  many  bodies  of  fresh  or  semi-salt  water.  Numbers  of  them  frequently 
come  on  shore  to  rest  and  preen  their  feathers,  but  the  wary  birds  are  continually 
on  the  lookout,  and  rare  it  is  that  the  hunter  can  surprise  them  while  thus  engaged. 
Often  when  feeding  among  the  rushes  they  may  be  located  by  their  oft-repeated 
notes  uttered  to  their  companions  in  an  agreeable  conversational  tone.  The  Bald- 
pate  is  fond  of  wild  celery.  This  it  is  said  to  be  quite  dexterous  in  securing  by 
robbing  Canvasbacks  and  other  diving-ducks  of  their  gleanings.  Widgeons  are 
commonly  found  among  the  wildfowl  bought  for  shipment  in  Currituck.  A  male 
taken  at  Raleigh,  November  12,  1891,  is  the  only  inland  occurrence  of  which  we 
have  any  knowledge. 

Genus  Nettion  (Kaup.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  A  white  crescent  on  side  in  front  of  wings  in  male.     Green-winged  Teal. 
1.  No  white  crescent  on  side  in  front  of  wings  in  male.     European  Teal. 

The  European  Teal,  Nettion  crecca  (Linn.),  is  similar  to  the  next  species,  and  the  male  is 
distinguished  from  it  chiefly  by  the  absence  of  the  white  crescent  on  side  in  front  of  wings. 
Female  and  immature  specimens  are  not  distinguishable  with  certainty  from  the  other  species. 
It  is  accidental  in  America,  and  as  North  Carolina  is  a  great  resort  for  wildfowl,  it  may  pos- 
sibly occur  here. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  65 


47.  Nettion  carolinense  (Gmel).    GREEN-WINGED  TEAL. 

Description:  Ad.  male. — Chin  black,  sides  of  head  from  eye  to  nape  shining  green,  rest  of  head 
and  neck  rufous-chestnut;  breast  washed  with  vinaceous  and  spotted  with  black;  belly  white; 
sides  finely  marked  with  wavy  black  and  white  lines;  middle  under  tail-coverts  black,  lateral 
ones  creamy  buff;  upper  back  like  sides,  lower  back  grayish  fuscous;  a  white  bar  in  front  of 
the  bend  of  the  wing;  wing-coverts  brownish  gray,  tipped  with  ochraceous  buffy.  Ad.  female. — 
Top  of  head  brownish  fuscous,  margined  with  cinnamon;  throat  and  sides  of  neck  white, 
finely  spotted  with  black;  breast  and  sides  washed  with  cinnamon  and  spotted  or  barred^with 
black;  belly  and  under  tail-coverts  white,  sometimes  spotted  with  black;  back  fuscous,  the 
feathers  with  crescent-shaped  marks  of  ochraceous  buffy,  and  bordered  with  grayish;  wings 
as  in  the  male.  L.,  14.50;  W.,  7.00;  Tar.,  1.10;  B.,  1.35.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Whole  of  North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter. 


FIG.  39.     GREEN-WINGED  TEAL    (adult  male). 

This,  one  of  the  smallest  of  our  ducks,  is  also  one  of  the  first  to  appear  in  the 
autumn.  Coues  reports  them  as  arriving  at  Fort  Macon  in  August,  and  further 
states  that  they  are  among  the  last  to  leave  in  spring.  Their  haunts  in  winter  are 
the  grassy  ponds  and  river-margins,  where  they  often  associate  with  other  ducks. 
Teal  are  generally  regarded  as  exceedingly  rapid  flyers,  and  yet  when  seen  flying 
in  company  with  Mallards  we  have  often  been  struck  with  the  fact  that  they  appar- 
ently were  unable  to  outstrip  their  larger  companions.  Pearson  recalls  on  one 
occasion  seeing  a  wounded  Green-winged  Teal  fall,  which,  on  striking  the  water, 
instantly  dived.  After  watching  a  few  minutes  for  its  reappearance,  he  waded  out 
to  the  point  where  it  had  disappeared  and  found  the  bird  about  two  feet  beneath 
the  surface,  clinging  with  its  bill  to  a  water-plant.  It  was  but  slightly  injured  and 
made  no  effort  to  escape  when  carried  ashore.  Gentle,  beautiful  little  creatures 
they  are,  persecuted  wherever  found  for  their  choice  flesh.  C.  S.  Brimley  observes 
that  as  a  result  of  draining  many  ponds  in  the  neighborhood  of  Raleigh  teals  of  both 
eastern  species  are  less  often  seen  than  formerly.  Years  ago  they  were  not  uncom- 
mon during  migrations,  and  were  occasionally  observed  in  winter. 
5 


66  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Genus  Querquedula  (Steph.) 
48.  Querquedula  discors  (Linn.}.    BLUE-WINGED  TEAL. 

Ad.  d*. — Crown  fuscous,  chin  and  sides  of  base  of  bill  black;  a  broad  white  band  across 
front  of  head,  its  hinder  margin  boidered  by  black;  rest  of  head  and  throat  dark  ashy  with 
purplish  reflections;  breast  and  belly  cinnamon-rufous,  thickly  spotted  with  black;  back  fus- 
cous., the  feathers  with  crescents  of  ochraceous-buff ;  lesser  and  median  wing-coverts  grayish  blue, 
end  half  of  greater  ones  white;  speculum  green.  Ad.  9  • — Crown  fuscous,  lightly  margined 
with  grayish;  sides  of  the  head  and  the  neck  whitish,  finely  spotted  with  blackish,  except  on  the 
throat;  breast  and  belly  with  less  cinnamon  wash  than  in  the  preceding;  back  and  wings  quite 
similar  to  the  preceding,  but  ochraceous  bars  sometimes  wanting,  speculum  darker  and  greater 
coverts  with  less  white.  L.,  16.00;  W.,  7.25;  Tar.,  1.20;  B.,  1.60.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.} 

Range. — Breeds  from  the  northern  half  of  the  United  States  northward;  winters  from  North 
Carolina  to  middle  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter,  but  most  common  during  the  migrations. 


FIG.  40.     BLUE-WINGED  TEAL  (adult  male). 

Observers  usually  agree  that  this  species  precedes  by  a  few  days  the  Green-winged 
Teal  in  the  autumn  migration.  C.  S.  Brimley  records  them  at  Raleigh  as  early 
as  October  19,  and  in  spring  as  late  as  May  6.  Cairns  saw  them  at  Weaverville 
April  16  and  23,  1892.  Bishop  speaks  of  their  being  at  Pea  Island  April  27  and 
again  May  1,  1905.  Beautiful  in  plumage,  delicious  when  rightly  cooked,  and 
usually  abundant  in  its  chosen  localities,  the  Blue- winged  Teal  is  justly  popular 
with  sportsmen.  The  birds  are  hunted  in  the  rice  fields  and  marshes  from  boats 
which  are  poled  slowly  by  an  assistant.  The  shooting  occurs  when  the  birds  take 
wing.  They  are  also  much  shot  at  "passes"  or  points  over  which  they  fly  when 
going  in  the  morning  or  evening  to  their  feeding  places.  Many  are  secured  from 
blinds,  for  these  birds  come  well  to  decoys.  So  unsuspicious  are  they  that  at  times 
one  may  easily  advance  in  the  open  to  a  point  within  shooting  distance. 

Genus  Spatula  (Boie) 
49.  Spatula  clypeata  (Linn.).    SHOVELLER. 

Description. — Male  with  head  and  neck  green,  breast  white,  belly  chestnut,  wing-coverts 
blue.  Female  much  duller,  streaky  brownish,  known  by  the  spoon-shaped  bill,  and  the  blue 
on  the  wing-coverts.  L.,  17.00-21.00;  W.,  9.00-10.00. 

Range. — Northern  Hemisphere,  breeding  in  America  from  the  northern  United  States  north- 
ward, wintering  from  Maryland  to  northern  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  67 


The  male  Shoveller  is  a  striking  bird  and  the  green  of  its  head  often  leads  the 
hasty  observer  at  a  distance  to  believe  that  he  is  looking  at  a  Mallard,  the  similarity 
also  being  heightened  in  part  by  the  large  size  of  the  bird.  This  species  is  more 
common  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  the  West.  In  North  Carolina,  however,  it 
appears  in  limited  numbers,  usually  frequenting  fresh  or  brackish  water.  We  have 
often  seen  these  ducks  in  the  possession  of  gunners  at  Currituck  and  have  bought 
others  at  New  Bern.  A  pair  was  seen  in  the  spring  of  1902  at  Raleigh  by  C.  S. 
Brimley.  Cairns  regarded  it  as  a  common  spring  transient  in  Buncombe  County. 
While  fairly  good  for  food,  it  is  not  rated  high  among  ducks. 


FIG.  41.     SHOVELLER   (adult  male). 

"I  found  a  flock  of  about  a  dozen  on  Lake  Ellis  in  November,  1909.  They  were 
feeding  in  very  shallow  water,  with  mud  bottom,  and  their  actions  were  noticeably 
different  from  those  of  any  other  ducks  with  which  I  am  familiar.  It  was  not 
more  than  a  hundred  yards  from  the  rear  of  my  blind  to  the  mudflat  on  which  the 
birds  were  feeding,  and  it  was  interesting  to  watch  their  movements.  The  notice- 
able feature  of  the  appearance  of  these  Shovellers  was  the  absence  of  any  erect 
heads.  Every  head  was  down  on  the  water,  and  every  bill  submerged.  The  effect 
was  more  that  of  a  lot  of  muskrats  wading  in  about  four  inches  of  water  than  of 
feeding  ducks.  Finally,  I  left  the  blind  and  waded  out  towards  them.  Even  then 
not  a  head  was  raised  until  I  was  almost  within  range.  Then  every  bill  came  up 
at  once  and  the  flock  took  flight.  Although  shot  at  several  times,  and  two  killed, 
the  survivors  returned  to  the  same  place  no  less  than  seven  times  during  a  period 
of  three  or  four  hours." — H.  H.  BRIMLEY. 


68  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 

Genus  Dafila  (Steph.) 
50.  Dafila  acuta  (Linn.}.    PINTAIL. 

Ad.  cf. — Head  and  throat  olive-brown;  back  of  neck  blackish,  bordered  by  white  stripes, 
which  pass  to  breast;  breast  and  belly  white;  the  abdomen  faintly  and  sides  strongly  marked 
with  wavy  lines  of  black  and  white;  back  somewhat  darker  than  sides;  scapulars  black,  bor- 
dered or  streaked  with  buffy  white;  wing-coverts  biownish  gray,  greater  ones  tipped  with 
rufous;  speculum  green;  central  tail-feathers  glossed  with  green  and  much  elongated.  Ad.  9  • — 
Throat  white  or  whitish,  crown  and  sides  of  head  streaked  with  blackish  and  buffy  ochracequs, 
darker  above;  breast  washed  with  buffy  ochraceous  and  spotted  with  blackish;  belly  white; 
abdomen  more  or  less  indistinctly  mottled  with  blackish;  sides  with  bars  and  lengthened 
black  and  white  crescents;  under  wing-coverts  fuscous,  bordered  with  whitish;  axillars  barred 
or  mottled  with  black;  back  fuscous,  the  feathers  with  borders,  bars,  or  crescents  of  white  or 
buffy;  speculum  grayish  brown  bordered  with  white.  Im. — The  im.  cf  is  variously  intermedi- 
ate between  the  ad.  cf  and  9  ;  the  im.  9  resembles  the  ad.  9 ,  but  the  underparts  are  more 
heavily  streaked  or  spotted.  L.,  d1,  28.00,  9,  22.00;  W.,  10.00;  T.,  d",  7.50,  9,  3.60;  B.,  2.00. 


FIG.  42.     PINTAIL  (adult  male). 

Remarks. — The  female  of  this  species  is  a  rather  obscure-looking  bird,  but  may  always  be 
known  by  its  broad,  sharply  pointed  central  tail-feathers  and  dusky  under  wing-coverts.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  Hemisphere;  in  North  America  breeding  from  northern  United  States 
northward,  wintering  from  Delaware  to  Panama. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter. 

The  Pintail  is  quite  as  cosmopolitan  in  its  distribution  as  the  Mallard,  but  appar- 
ently nowhere  so  abundant.  Often  the  two  are  found  feeding  together,  but  the 
Pintail  is  more  suspicious  and  does  not  decoy  so  readily.  Its  summer  home  is  in 
the  northern  regions  of  both  continents.  Many  Pintails  winter  in  suitable  places 
along  our  seaboard;  in  fact,  in  brackish  and  fresh  water  they  are  surpassed  in 
numbers  only  by  the  Mallard  and  Black  Duck. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  69 


This  is  a  long-tailed,  long-necked,  neat,  slender,  and  very  active  duck,  being  in 
fact  one  of  the  most  attractive  of  our  wild  fowl.  It  is  built  on  racing  lines  and 
shows  speed  in  every  movement,  whether  on  the  water  or  in  the  air.  Every  duck- 
shooter  knows,  too,  that  the  bird's  speed  in  flight  is  in  keeping  with  its  appearance. 
Good  to  look  upon,  most  staisfying  to  the  gunner,  and  an  appetizing  dish  when  on 
the  table,  it  is  a  great  favorite  with  discriminating  duck-shooters. 

Cairns  regarded  it  as  a  rare  transient  at  Weaverville,  Buncombe  County. 

Genus  Aix  (Boie) 

51.  Aix  sponsa  (Linn.}.    WOOD  DUCK:  SUMMER  DUCK. 

Ad.  cf. — A  line  from  bill  over  eye,  a  similar  line  at  base  of  side  of  crest,  and  some  of 
elongated  crest-feathers  white;  throat,  a  band  from  it  up  side  of  head,  and  a  wider  one  to  nape, 
white;  rest  of  cheeks  and  crown  green  with  purplish  reflections;  a  white  band  in  front  of  wings; 
breast  and  a  spot  at  either  side  of  the  base  of  the  tail  purplish  chestnut,  the  former  spotted 
with  white;  belly  white;  sides  buffy  ochraceous,  finely  barred  with  black,  longer  flank  feathers 
tipped  with  wider  bars  of  black  and  white;  back  greenish  brown;  scapulars  blacker;  speculum 
steel-blue;  primaries  tipped  with  greenish  blue.  Ad.  9  . — -Throat  and  a  stripe  from  the  eye 
backward  white;  crown  purplish  brown;  sides  of  the  head  ashy  brown;  breast  and  sides  gray- 
ish brown  streaked  with  buffy;  belly  white;  back  olive-brown  glossed  with  greenish;  inner 
primaries  tipped  with  greenish  blue.  Im. — The  im.  o71  resembles  the  9  •  L.,  18.50;  W.,  9.00; 
Tar.,  1.35;  B.,  1.30.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N  A.) 

Range.— Whole  of  temperate  North  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Whole  State  at  all  seasons. 

"Calloused  indeed  is  the  heart  of  the  hunter  who  can  gaze  unmoved  upon  the 
matchless  beauty  of  a  male  Wood  Duck.  For  exquisite  markings,  no  duck  in  the 
world  can  surpass  the  coloring  of  this  living  gem  of  the  woodland  streams.  From 
early  youth  the  writer  has  seen  much  of  the  ways  of  the  Summer  Duck,  and  whether 
in  flight  or  in  repose  on  the  margin  of  some  quiet  pond,  its  actions  have  always 
suggested  a  gentleness  and  grace  which  accord  well  with  the  charm  of  its  dress. 
We  can  readily  believe  that  the  great  naturalist,  Linnseus,  did  justice  to  his  feelings 
when  he  named  it  sponsa,  the  bride.  Never  is  the  Wood  Duck  absent  from  North 
Carolina.  The  margins  of  our  sounds,  quiet  back-waters  from  the  rivers,  seques- 
tered ponds  and  rice-field  ditches  are  its  haunts.  Here  late  in  the  summer  flocks 
may  be  found,  sometimes  numbering  fifty  or  more.  When  startled  they  often 
divide  into  companies  of  ten  or  a  dozen  each,  probably  separating  into  family 
groups,  and  after  circling  once  or  twice  pass  off  through  the  forest,  uttering  as  they 
go,  low  plaintive  cries  of  alarm. 

"On  May  11,  1898,  the  writer  found  a  Wood  Duck's  nest  in  the  hollow  of  a  holly 
tree  in  the  woods  at  Cape  Hatteras.  The  entrance  to  the  cavity  was  about  ten  feet 
from  the  ground  and  the  tree  stood  in  a  grove  fully  six  hundred  yards  from  the 
water.  The  twelve  slightly  incubated  eggs  were  almost  entirely  covered  with  down 
plucked  from  the  body  of  the  bird.  A  remarkable  feature  about  the  location  of  this 
nest  was  the  fact  that  the  tree  stood  in  a  yard  near  a  house,  and  beneath  its  branches 
children,  dogs,  and  pigs  disported  themselves  at  pleasure.  That  their  noisy  neigh- 
bors did  not  greatly  disturb  the  mother-bird  was  further  shown  by  the  fact  that 
while  engaged  in  examining  the  nest  she  alighted  on  the  limb  of  a  neighboring  tree, 
where  she  stood  observing  my  actions  with  interest.  The  same  day  a  second  nest 


70  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


was  found  in  a  hollow  pine-tree  stump  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  In  this 
instance  the  entrance  to  the  nest  was  through  the  top.  In  Florida,  I  once  found 
a  nest  of  this  species  in  a  hole  excavated  by  a  Flicker,  one  and  one-half  miles  from 
the  nearest  body  of  water.  In  the  breeding  season,  when  the  birds  are  going  to  and 
from  their  nest,  the  female  always  leads,  flying  usually  a  few  yards  in  advance 
of  her  mate. 

"Wood  Ducks  are  choice  food,  and  as  a  result  of  their  constant  persecution  are 
rapidly  becoming  exterminated  in  many  parts  of  the  State,  a  fate  doubtless  being 
hastened  by  the  draining  of  ponds  and  swamps.  Their  numbers  are  so  reduced 
that,  in  my  opinion,  their  killing  should  be  prohibited  by  law  at  all  times. 

"From  the  time  the  little  ones  reach  the  water  until  they  are  able  to  fly,  there 
are  few  birds  more  skilled  in  making  themselves  invisible  on  the  approach  of  danger. 
Swimming  with  neck  outstretched  and  head  flat  on  the  surface,  slipping  as  quietly 
as  a  snake  among  the  lily-pads  and  water-grasses,  or  diving,  if  surprised  in  the 
open,  a  young  Wood  Duck  is  not  easily  seen  and  is  much  less  easily  captured. 

"Observers  seem  to  agree  that  the  young  are  usually  taken  from  the  nest  to  the 
water  in  the  bill  of  the  parent." — PEARSON. 

Genus  Marila  (Oken) 

This  genus  comprises  five  species  of  our  sea-  or  diving-ducks,  four  of  them  being 
among  the  best  known  of  all  our  species. 

1.  Bill  not  wider  toward  end  than  at  base;  male  with  head  and  neck  reddish.     See  2. 

1.  Bill  wider  toward  end  than  at  base;  male  with  head  and  neck  black.     See  3. 

2.  Bill  much  shorter  than  middle  toe  without  claw.     Redhead. 

2.  Bill  as  long  as  middle  toe  without  claw.     Canvasback. 

3.  Speculum  bluish  gray.     Ring-necked  Duck. 

3.  Speculum  white.     See  4. 

4.  Flanks  white,  unmarked;  size  larger,  wing  8.25  or  more.     Scaup  Duck. 

4.  Flanks  zigzagged  with  blackish;  smaller;  wing  8.25  or  less.     Lesser  Scaup  Duck. 

52.  Marila  americana  (Eyt.}.    REDHEAD. 

Ad.  cf. — Head  and  throat  bright  rufous;  lower  neck,  breast,  back  of  neck  and  upper  back 
black;  rest  of  back  and  scapulars  finely  barred  with  wavy  black  and  white  lines  of  equal  width; 
wing-coverts  brownish  gray;  upper  tail-coverts  black;  belly  white,  lower  belly  more  or  less 
finely  barred  with  black;  under  tail-coverts  black;  sides  like  back.  Ad.  9  • — Upperparts  dark 
grayish  brown,  darker  on  rump,  the  feathers  more  or  less  margined  with  buffy  or  ashy;  sides 
of  head  lighter;  upper  throat  white;  neck  buffy  ochraceous;  breast  and  sides  grayish  brown, 
more  or  less  washed  or  margined  with  buffy  or  buffy  ochraceous;  belly  white;  lower  belly  and 
under  tail-coverts  tinged  with  ochraceous;  an  indistinct  bluish-gray  band  across  end  of  bill. 
L.,  19.00;  W.,  8.90;  Tar.,  1.55:  B.,  1.85. 

Remarks. — This  species  is  frequently  confused  with  the  Canvasback,  from  which  it  may  be 
distinguished  by  the  characters  given  under  that  species. 

The  female  Redhead  suggests  the  female  Ring-neck  in  coloration,  but  the  latter  is  browner, 
and  they  can  be  also  distinguished  with  certainty  by  the  difference  in  their  size.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeds  from  northern  United  States  northward,  winters  from  Mary- 
land to  Mexico. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter. 

To  the  market-hunter  of  the  North  Carolina  coast  the  Redhead  is  an  exceedingly 
important  bird.  Coming,  as  it  does,  in  immense  flocks  in  the  early  autumn  and 
remaining  usually  throughout  the  winter,  the  fine  quality  of  the  flesh  and  the  oppor- 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  71 


tunities  of  taking  it  in  large  numbers  present  a  field  for  gunnery  eagerly  entered  by 
hundreds  of  coastwise  people.  They  are  generally  shot  over  decoys,  either  from  a 
floating  battery  or  blind.  At  night  they  frequently  raft  in  great  numbers,  and  from 
Core  Sound  especially  come  many  complaints  that  gunners  illegally  shoot  them  by 
means  of  a  light  shining  from  the  prow  of  the  boat.  As  many  as  one  hundred  and 
fifty  are  thus  at  times  slaughtered  in  one  night  from  a  single  boat.  As  yet  the 
State  has  failed  to  provide  sufficient  funds  to  employ  an  ample  warden  force  to 
suppress  these  violations,  and  as  long  as  the  sale  of  game  is  legalized,  this  tremen- 
dous killing  will  doubtless  continue. 


FIG.  43.     REDHEAD    (adult  male). 

Redheads  feed  largely  upon  the  so-called  wild  celery  of  the  brackish  waters  of 
the  coast.  This  plant  is  in  no  sense  a  celery,  but  is  the  Vallisneria  spiralis,  or 
common  eel-grass,  which  one  may  often  see  washed  in  quantities  upon  the  shores 
and  islands  of  our  inner  harbors.  To  procure  their  food  the  ducks  must  dive,  often 
to  a  depth  of  six  feet  or  more. 

The  Redhead  bears  a  close  resemblance  to  the  far-famed  Canvasback,  from  which, 
however,  it  is  readily  distinguished  by  the  shape  of  the  bill,  unless,  forsooth,  they 
be  served  together,  and  then  the  finest  connoisseur  will  find  his  past  experience  of 
little  avail  in  his  attempts  at  identification. 

The  Redhead  usually  retires  northward  in  March. 

53.  Marila  valisineria  (Wils.}.    CANVASBACK. 

Ad.  cf . — Head  and  neck  rufous-brown,  chin  and  crown  generally  blackish;  breast  and  upper 
back  black;  rest  of  back,  and  usually  wing-coverts,  finely  barred  with  wavy  lines  of  black  and 
white,  white  lines  wider;  belly  white;  lower  belly  more  or  less  finely  barred  with  black;  upper 
and  under  tail-coverts  black;  sides  white,  much  more  lightly  barred  with  wavy  black  lines  than 
back,  or  even  entirely  without  bars.  Ad.  9 . — Head,  neck,  upper  breast,  and  upper  back  cin- 
namon, throat  lighter,  and,  with  front  parts  of  head,  more  or  less  washed  with  rufous;  back 


72  BIKDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


grayish  brown,  feathers  more  or  less  barred  with  wavy  white  lines;  belly  white  or  grayish  white; 
sides  the  same  or  grayish  brown,  generally  marked  like  back.  L.,  21.00;  W.,  9.00;  Tar.,  1.60; 
B.,  2.40. 

Remarks. — This  species  is  sometimes  mistaken  for  the  Redhead,  to  which  it  bears  a  general 
resemblance.  The  males  of  the  two  species  may  be  distinguished  (1)  by  the  color  of  the  head 
and  neck,  which  is  rufous  in  the  Redhead  and  rufous-brown  in  the  Canvasback;  (2)  by  the 
generally  blackish  chin  and  crown  of  the  Canvasback,  these  parts  in  the  Redhead  being  colored 
like  the  rest  of  the  head;  (3)  by  the  difference  in  the  markings  of  the  back,  wing-coverts,  and 
sides;  and  (4)  by  the  difference  in  the  size  and  shape  of  the  bill,  as  shown  by  the  accompanying 
measurements.  The  females  of  the  two  species  may  be  at  once  distinguished  by  the  color  of 
the  back,  which  in  the  Canvasback  is  finely  barred  with  wavy  white  lines,  markings  which  do 
not  appear  on  the  back  of  the  female  Redhead.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America;  breeds  from  northern  United  States  northward,  winters  from  Penn- 
sylvania to  Mexico. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region,  mainly  confined  to  Currituck  Sound  and  vicinity. 


PIG.  44.     CANVASBACK   (adult  male). 

Few  wild  birds  on  the  American  market  today  command  as  high  prices  as  the 
Canvasback,  and  for  long  years  to  come  it  will  probably  be  regarded  as  the  standard 
of  comparison  when  discussions  arise  as  to  the  relative  merits  of  palatable  ducks. 
Of  their  autumn  flight,  Sanford  in  The  Water  Fowl  Family  says:  "The  migra- 
tion from  the  North  is  over  the  water-courses  of  the  interior,  until  near  the  bounda- 
ries of  the  United  States;  there  some  strike  the  Pacific  shore,  and  a  large  body 
pass  over  the  prairies  to  Texas  and  Mexico,  wintering  on  the  larger  inland  bodies  of 
water  and  along  both  coasts  to  Central  America.  Another  smaller  flight  is  over  the 
Great  Lakes  to  the  Chesapeake  and  south.  This  is  the  course  of  those  birds  win- 
tering on  the  Atlantic  coast." 

Canvasbacks  are  shot  almost  entirely  over  decoys.  In  the  sounds  of  North  Caro- 
lina the  market-gunners  usually  shoot  from  batteries,  and  cold,  windy  days  are 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  73 


regarded  by  many  gunners  as  the  best  for  securing  a  large  bag.  A  driving  mist  or 
a  thin  snow  render  the  possibilities  of  the  hunter  even  greater.  These  birds  fly  with 
surprising  rapidity.  While  shooting  from  a  blind  in  Pamlico  Sound  we  invariably 
missed  the  few  straggling  Canvasbacks  that  passed.  It  was  only  when  we  learned 
to  fire  at  a  point  ten  or  twelve  feet  ahead  of  the  flying  birds  that  success  crowned 
our  efforts.  When  but  slightly  wounded  this  bird  will  dive  with  great  alacrity  and, 
swimming  for  many  rods  beneath  the  surface,  will  rise  an  instant  for  breath  and 
again  disappear  before  the  gunner  can  fire. 

There  is  much  evidence  that  this  splendid  game-bird  is  perceptibly  decreasing, 
the  occasional  reported  increase  in  various  localities  being  easily  accounted  for  by 
the  change  in  flight  for  the  season. 

54.  Marila  marila  (Linn.}.     SCAUP  DUCK:  BIG  BLACKHEAD. 

Description. — Head,  neck,  and  breast  black  in  male;  no  ring  round  neck;  back  and  scapulars 
grayish  white  irregularly  zigzagged  with  black;  head  with  greenish  gloss.  Female  duller,  the 
head  and  neck  brown,  with  white  around  the  base  of  bill,  upperparts  mainly  brown.  L.,  18.00- 
20.00;  W.,  8.25-9.00. 

Range. — Northern  part  of  Northern  Hemisphere,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United 
States,  wintering  from  Maine  to  Florida. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter,  but  mainly  in  Pamlico  Sound. 

The  Big  Blackhead  is  much  more  of  a  "raft"  duck  than  the  Little  Blackhead, 
approaching  more  nearly  the  Redhead  in  its  habits  and  range.  It  is  found  chiefly 
on  the  salt-water  and  brackish  sounds.  Here  it  often  congregates  in  companies  of 
many  thousands,  and  does  not,  at  such  times,  decoy  with  the  frequency  and  absence 
of  caution  that  are  so  characteristic  of  the  Lesser  Scaup. 

W.  M.  Webb  of  Morehead  City,  who,  in  his  capacity  of  State  Oyster  Commis- 
sioner, probably  travels  the  waters  of  Core  and  Pamlico  sounds  to  a  greater  extent 
than  any  other  person  during  the  ducking  season,  and  who  is  besides  an  ardent 
and  observing  sportsman,  writes  as  follows :  "The  number  of  Big  Blackheads  out- 
number the  Little  Blackheads  three  to  one  on  Pamlico  and  Core  sounds.  I  should 
say  that  there  are  more  Little  Blackheads  killed  for  the  reason  that  they  travel 
singly,  in  pairs,  or  small  bunches,  and  decoy  better  than  any  duck  we  have.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  Big  Blackheads  travel  in  large  numbers  and  are  as  wary  as  Red- 
heads. There  have  been  more  of  the  Big  Blackheads  and  Redheads  during  the  past 
two  seasons  than  at  any  time  during  the  last  ten  years." — (Extract  from  letter 
dated  August  17,  1911.) 

C.  S.  Brinson,  a  lifelong  resident  on  Currituck  Sound,  and  a  large  game-dealer, 
states  in  a  letter  dated  September  1,  1911,  that  the  Little  Blackhead  is  the  most 
plentiful  of  all  ducks  on  Currituck,  but  that  the  Big  Blackhead — "Broadbill,"  as 
he  calls  it — is  equally  plentiful  on  the  lower  salt-water  sounds.  From  1914  to 
1918,  bags  of  Blackheads  taken  on  New  River,  in  Onslow  County,  have  at  times 
contained  a  good  percentage  of  the  larger  species.  Ordinarily,  the  Lesser  Scaup 
is  the  common  duck  on  these  waters,  but  when  ducks  in  general  are  compara- 
tively scarce,  it  sometimes  occurs  that  the  Big  Blackheads  taken  outnumber  the 
smaller  species.  I  have  weighed  several  pairs  of  these  birds  that  ran  over  4?/£ 
pounds  to  the  pair,  one  pair  weighed  reaching  five  pounds  even.  H.  H.  BRIMLEY. 


74  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


These  evidences  of  the  abundance  of  the  Big  Blackhead  in  North  Carolina 
waters  are  introduced  as  a  rebuttal  of  the  statement  made  by  former  writers  that 
Chesapeake  Bay  forms  the  southern  limit  of  this  bird's  winter  range,  and  further, 
that  in  North  Carolina  its  place  is  taken  by  the  Little  Blackhead.  The  probable 
reason  for  this  mistake  is  that  most  of  the  published  duck-lore  of  the  State  has 
come  from  observers  on  Currituck  Sound  and  vicinity,  where  the  small  species  is 
the  one  most  in  evidence. 

Both  the  Blackheads  are  "good"  ducks  when  feeding  on  aquatic  vegetable 
growths,  but  the  flesh  becomes  strong  and  fishy  when  they  take  to  an  exclusive 
diet  of  small  mussels,  as  they  do  in  localities  where  the  vegetable  food  is  absent. 
And  hundreds  of  thousands  spend  the  winter  on  waters  where  the  latter  condi- 
tions prevail. 


FIG.  45.     SCAUP:   BIG  BLACKHEAD    (adult  male). 

Every  salt-water  duck-shooter  from  Core  Sound  to  the  Long  Island  waters  knows 
the  Big  Blackhead,  or  Broadbill,  and  better  duck-shooting  cannot  be  had  than  that 
furnished  by  these  birds  when  the  weather  is  right  for  breaking  the  large  rafts  into 
bunches  small  enough  to  be  attracted  to  the  shooter's  decoys. 

55.  Marila  affinis  (Eyt.}.    LESSER  SCAUP  DUCK. 

Ad.  cf. — Similar  to  preceding  species  but  smaller,  head,  as  a  rule,  glossed  with  purplish 
instead  of  greenish,  and  flanks  strongly  instead  of  faintly  marked  with  wavy  black  bars. 
Ad.  9  • — -Similar  to  9  of  the  preceding  species,  but  smaller,  cf  L.,  16.50;  W.,  8.00;  Tar.,  1.35; 
B.,  1.60;  greatest  width  of  B.,  .95.  9  L.,  16.50;  W.,  7.60;  Tar.,  1.30;  B.,  1.55;  greatest  width 
of  B.,  .90. 

Remarks. — The  Scaup  Ducks  resemble  each  other  so  closely  that  it  is  sometimes  impossible 
to  tell  them  apart,  but  they  may  generally  be  distinguished  by  the  characters  given  above. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  75 


Range. — North  America,  breeding  from  northern  United  States  northward,  wintering  from 
New  Jersey  to  Panama. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter;  occasionally  inland. 

This  is  the  common  "Blackhead"  or  "Bluebill"  of  our  fresh-water  sounds,  estu- 
aries, and  coastwise  creeks,  and  is  well  known  to  the  sportsmen  and  market-gunners 
of  most  of  the  Carolina  coast-country.  It  also  frequents  in  limited  numbers  the 
fresh-water  lakes  and  rivers  of  the  interior.  H.  H.  Brimley  reports  it  as  a  regular, 
though  never  common,  winter  visitor  on  Lake  Ellis,  and  specimens  were  taken  by 
him  at  Raleigh,  March  10,  1891,  and  again  January  2,  1895.  Cairns  regarded  it 
as  a  transient  in  Buncombe  County. 

This  is  by  far  the  most  abundant  species  in  winter  on  the  Florida  waters,  and 
quickly  learns  a  territory  wherein  protection  is  afforded  it.  Thus  at  Palm  Beach, 
situated  in  Lake  Worth,  where  the  Audubon  law  has  made  it  illegal  to  kill  these 
birds,  Pearson  in  1909  found  them  so  tame  that  by  throwing  fragments  of  shell 
into  the  water  the  birds  were  easily  persuaded  to  swim  in  close  to  the  sea-wall  in 
quest  of  the  supposed  food.  On  such  occasions  they  did  not  hesitate  to  approach 
within  ten  or  fifteen  feet.  Similar  treatment  would  make  them  just  as  tame  in 
North  Carolina. 

The  Little  Scaup  comes  well  to  decoys,  and  many  are  thus  killed.  By  scattering 
grain  in  the  water  at  a  place  where  they  have  been  observed  to  come  and  feed,  they 
can  soon  be  induced  to  acquire  such  a  preference  for  the  locality  that  the  flocks  will 
return  again  and  again  after  being  fired  upon.  They  are  birds  that  possess  a 
strong  curiosity  and,  in  some  places,  like  the  antelope,  it  is  said  they  are  tolled  to 
their  destruction  by  simply  displaying  a  small  red  flag  and  judiciously  waving  it 
to  attract  their  attention. 

On  our  coastal  waters  probably  more  Little  Blackheads  are  killed  over  decoys 
than  all  other  species  combined.  In  the  early  part  of  the  season  vast  numbers  are 
slaughtered  on  the  lower  reaches  of  Currituck  Sound,  and  in  November  of  1909  we 
know  of  one  pair  of  market-gunners  shooting  four  hundred  in  a  single  day,  by  an 
expenditure  of  about  eleven  hundred  shot-cartridges.  Not  very  shy,  drawing  to 
almost  any  kind  of  a  decoy,  and  rather  unsuspicious,  this  little  duck  is  the  joy  of 
the  shooter  from  a  battery  or  blind  who  is  killing  them  for  market. 

Bearing  on  the  possible  breeding  of  the  Little  Blackhead  in  this  State,  the  follow- 
ing notes  are  of  interest: 

In  May,  1909,  a  party  was  bass-fishing  in  South  River,  Carteret  County. 
While  casting  along  the  edge  of  the  marsh  a  bird  was  seen  to  slide  into  the  water 
just  ahead  of  the  boat.  It  instantly  dived,  and  was  killed  with  a  paddle  as  it  rose. 
It  proved  to  be  a  female  Lesser  Scaup,  with  the  breast  worn  so  bare  as  to  indicate 
an  incubating  bird.  (Reported  by  Mr.  William  Dunn  of  New  Bern.) 

A  pair  of  this  species  was  seen  on  Lake  Ellis  in  June,  1906,  by  H.  H.  Brimley. 

Bruner  and  Feild  observed  a  pair  on  Lake  Kawana,  in  Avery  County,  in  late 
June,  1911. 

In  Forest  and  Stream  for  August  6,  1910,  page  211,  Jasper  White  of  Waterlily, 
N.  C.,  writes:  "On  July  13,  1910,  a  flock  of  seven  young  Blackheads — small  sized 
Scaup — was  seen.  They  were  very  tame  and  allowed  me  to  get  within  twenty  yards 


76  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


of  them.  We  often  see  young  Black  Ducks,  Wood  Ducks,  and  sometimes  Mallards, 
but  I  never  saw  or  heard  of  young  Blackheads  at  Currituck  before.  There  is  a 
flock  of  two  hundred  or  two  hundred  and  fifty  Scaup  now  on  the  beach  ponds  of 
the  Swan  Island  Club,  and  I  have  no  doubt  many  of  them  are  young  birds." 

56.  Marila  collaris  (Donov.}.    RING-NECKED  DUCK. 

Ad.  c?. — Chin  white;  head,  neck,  breast  and  upper  back  black,  head  with  bluish  reflections, 
neck  with  a  not  sharply  denned  chestnut  collar;  back  and  scapulars  black,  speculum  gray;  upper 
and  under  tail-coverts  black,  belly  white,  lower  belly  and  sides  finely  barred  with  wavy  black 
lines;  bill  black,  base  and  a  band  across  end  bluish  gray.  Ad.  9  • — Upperparts  fuscous-brown, 
more  or  less  margined  with  ochraceous;  speculum  gray;  sides  of  head  and  neck  mixed  grayish 
bi'own  and  white;  breast,  sides  and  lower  belly  grayish  brown,  more  or  less  margined  with 
ochraceous;  upper  belly  white  or  whitish;  bill  blackish,  an  indistinct  band  of  bluish  gray 
across  its  end.  L.,  16.50;  W.,  7.50;  Tar.,  1.25;  B.,  1.80. 

Remarks. — The  male  Ring-neck  may  be  known  from  any  of  its  allies  by  its  chestnut  collar 
and  other  excellent  characters;  the  female  resembles  the  female  Redhead,  but  is  smaller  and 
generally  browner.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  from  the  northwestern  States  northward,  winters  from 
New  Jersey  to  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter;  rare. 


PIG.  46.     RING-NECKED  DUCK    (adult  male). 

As  this  is  usually  mistaken  for  the  Little  Blackhead  by  gunners,  its  comparative 
abundance  is  difficult  to  ascertain.  At  a  little  distance  the  two  are  indistinguish- 
able. Only  a  few  specimens  have  been  recorded  in  North  Carolina.  Cairns  speaks 
of  it  as  a  rare  transient  in  Buncombe  County,  and  there  are  two  in  the  State 
Museum  which  were  taken  on  the  coast.  Its  summer  home  is  far  to  the  north,  and 
it  is  one  of  the  few  ducks  which  are  said  to  use  no  feathers  in  their  nests. 

Brinson,  who  is  quoted  in  regard  to  the  Broadbill,  states  that  possibly  one  per 
cent  of  the  "  Blackheads  "  killed  in  eastern  North  Carolina  are  Ring-necks.  He  thus 
regards  it  as  comparatively  rare. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  77 


On  November  1,  1911,  two  females  of  this  species  were  found  among  the  fowl 
killed  that  day  on  Lake  Ellis.  They  were  identified  by  H.  H.  Brimley,  after  having 
been  passed  over  by  the  other  gunners  as  Little  Blackheads.  There  is  little  doubt 
that  this  bird  is  much  more  frequently  killed  in  North  Carolina  than  is  generally 
supposed. 

The  black  bill,  with  lead-colored  cross  bar,  will  always  distinguish  it  when  freshly 
killed  from  the  Lesser  Scaup,  with  its  lead-colored  bill  and  black  tail.  The  gray 
speculum  of  the  Ring-necked  Duck,  as  opposed  to  the  white  of  the  Blackhead,  is 
another  point  of  distinction. 

Genus  Clangula  (Oken) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

This  genus  is  represented  in  North  America  by  two  species,  both  of  which  have 
been  attributed  to  our  State,  one  probably  erroneously. 

1.  Male  with  a  round  or  oval  spot  of  white  on  lower  part  of  lores;  female  with  brown  of  neck 
reaching  only  to  upper  part  of  neck,  and  not  as  far  in  front  as  elsewhere.  Golden-eye. 

1.  Male  with  a  large  vertical  wedge-shaped  patch  of  white  across  lores:  female  with  brown  of 
neck  descending  to  middle  of  neck  all  around.  Barrow's  Golden-eye. 


FIG.  47.     GOLDEN-EYE    (adult  male). 

57.  Clangula  clangula  americana  (Bonap.}.    GOLDEN-EYE. 

Ad.  <?. — Head  and  throat  dark,  glossy  green,  a  circular  white  patch  at  base  of  bill  measuring, 
along  bill,  less  than  half  an  inch  in  height;  neck  all  around,  breast,  belly,  exposed  part  of  wing- 
coverts,  speculum,  and  most  of  the  scapulars  white;  rest  of  plumage  black.  Ad.  9 . — Head 
and  throat  cinnamon-brown,  foreneck  white;  upper  breast,  back,  and  sides  ashy  gray  bordered 
with  grayish;  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white;  speculum,  lower  breast  and  belly  white.  L., 
20.00;  W.,  9.00;  B.  from  anterior  margin  of  white  patch  to  anterior  margin  of  nostril,  1.00; 
from  anterior  margin  of  nostril  to  tip,  .75.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.} 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States,  wintering  from  Maine 
to  Mexico. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Coastal  region;  also  occasional  in  the  interior. 


78  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Golden-eye  or  Whistler  is  of  wide  distribution,  being  found  at  some  time 
of  the  year  throughout  the  greater  part  of  North  America.  Difficult  at  all  times 
to  kill,  it  knows  well  the  hunting  methods  of  the  Eskimo  of  the  North  and  the  peon 
of  the  South.  As  a  diver  it  is  an  expert,  and  often  disappears  at  the  flash  of  the 
gun.  Writing  of  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Golden-eye,  Mr.  William  Brewster  in 
The  Auk  for  July,  1900,  says:  "All  the  Whistlers'  nests  which  I  have  examined 
have  been  placed  over  water  at  heights  varying  from  six  or  eight  to  fifty  or  sixty 
feet,  and  in  cavities  in  the  trunks  of  large  hardwood  trees  such  as  elms,  maples,  and 
yellow  or  canoe  birches.  As  the  supply  of  such  cavities  is  limited  even  where  dead 
or  decaying  trees  abound,  and  as  the  birds  have  no  means  of  enlarging  or  otherwise 
improving  them,  they  are  not  fastidious  in  their  choice,  but  readily  make  use  of 
any  opening  which  can  be  made  to  serve  their  purpose.  Thus  it  happens  that  the 
nest  is  sometimes  placed  at  the  bottom  of  a  hollow  trunk,  six,  ten,  or  even  fifteen 
feet  below  the  hole  at  which  the  bird  enters,  and  at  others  on  a  level  with  and 
scarce  a  foot  back  from  the  entrance."  The  introduction  of  pickerel  in  many 
northern  streams  and  lakes  is  responsible  for  the  destruction  of  numerous  young, 
a  plump,  juicy  young  duck  affording  an  appetizing  mouthful  for  this  ever-hungry 
fish. 

The  Golden-eyes  frequent  our  sounds  and  estuaries  apparently  in  limited  num- 
bers, feeding  upon  shellfish,  Crustacea,  and  various  water  plants.  They  keep  well 
to  themselves  as  a  rule,  and  never  "raft"  in  large  numbers. 


FIG.  48.     BARROW'S  GOLDEN-EYE    (adult  male). 

Coues  found  them  not  uncommon  near  Fort  Macon  in  1869  and  1870.  Cairns 
records  them  as  rare  in  Buncombe  County.  Several  skins  from  the  coast  region  are 
in  the  State  Museum.  Pearson  discovered  a  dead  specimen  on  Pea  Island,  Decem- 
ber 30,  1902.  H.  H.  Brimley  collected  an  immature  male,  and  saw  another  on 
White  Lake  in  Bladen  County,  January  3,  1912. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  79 


58.  Clangula  islandica  (GmeL).    BARKOW'S  GOLDEN-EYE. 

Description. — Male  with  head  and  upper  neck  glossy  purplish  black,  with  a  large  vertical 
crescent-shaped  patch  of  white  across  lores;  a  black  band  crossing  white  wing  patch;  female 
very  similar  to  Golden-eye,  distinguished  by  the  character  given  in  the  key,  and  by  the  bill 
being  comparatively  shorter  and  having  a  broader  nail,  these  last  distinctions  applying  to  both 
sexes.  Size  about  same  as  the  preceding  species. 

Range. — Northern  North  America,  breeding  from  Iceland  to  Quebec  and  Colorado,  winter- 
ing from  the  St.  Lawrence  to  California  and  New  England. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Has  been  attributed  to  Buncombe  and  Craven  counties,  in  the 
latter  case  apparently  erroneously. 

This  bird  is  more  northern  and  western  in  its  distribution  than  the  preceding 
species.  In  habits  and  general  appearance  the  two  are  very  similar.  Four  have 
been  recorded  from  North  Carolina,  but  the  identifications  were  incorrect  in  three 
of  these  cases.  The  two  specimens  in  the  State  Museum  mentioned  by  Smithwick 
(Catalogue  of  N.  C.  Birds)  are  really  adult  male  americana.  The  specimen  taken 
by  Cairns  in  February,  1893  (see  C.  S.  Brimley,  The  Auk,  July,  1893,  pp.  241-2), 
is  in  the  collection  of  William  Brewster,  who  informs  us  that  it  is  a  male  americana 
assuming  the  adult  plumage.  The  specimen  in  the  State  Museum  mentioned  by 
C.  S.  Brimley  (loco  citato)  is  one  of  the  two  mentioned  by  Smithwick,  and  is 
americana. 

The  one  record,  therefore,  is  that  of  a  male  which  Cairns  reported  that  he  took 
in  Buncombe  County  on  May  6,  1893.  This  specimen  has  not  been  located 


FIG.   49.      BUFFLEHEAD    (adult  male). 

Genus  Charitonetta  (Stejn.) 
59.  Charitonetta  albeola  (Linn.).    BUFFLEHEAD. 

^Description.— Male  black  and  white,  the  head  very  puffy  and  beautifully  iridescent  black, 
with  no  white  in  front  of  eye,  but  a  large  white  patch  back  of  eye.  Lower  neck,  underparts, 
wing-coverts,  secondaries  and  outer  scapulars,  white;  rest  of  upperparts  black.  Female  duller, 
with  the  black  replaced  by  grayish  brown.  L.,  12.25-15.25;  W.,  6.00-7.00. 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States,  wintering  from  New 
Brunswick  to  Florida  and  Mexico. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter,  occasionally  inland. 


80 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


This  is  a  common  duck  on  the  sounds  and  estuaries,  usually  seen  in  pairs  or  in 
small  flocks.  The  male  is  beautiful  and  quick-moving,  always  more  or  less  in  evi- 
dence to  the  gunners  spending  a  day  in  a  blind  out  on  the  sounds.  It  does  not 
decoy  readily  and  its  small  size  and  rapid  movements  make  it  a  difficult  target.  It 
is  a  marvelous  diver  and,  to  some  extent,  feeds  upon  small  shell-fish. 

A  female  was  taken  at  Raleigh,  December  16,  1893,  and  it  is  recorded  by  Cairns 
as  a  rare  transient  in  Buncombe  County. 

Genus  Harelda  (Steph.) 
60.  Harelda  hyemalis  (Linn.).    OLD-SQUAW. 

Ad.  cf  in  winter. — -Sides  of  front  of  head  washed  with  grayish  brown;  sides  of  hack  of  head 
and  sides  of  upper  neck  black,  more  or  less  margined  with  ochraceous;  rest  of  head,  neck  all 
around,  upper  back,  scapulars,  and  lower  belly  white;  back,  breast,  and  upper  belly  black;  tail 
pointed,  middle  feathers  very  long  and  narrow;  band  across  end  of  bill  yellowish  orange.  Ad. 
cf  in  summer. — Sides  of  the  front  of  head  white;  rest  of  head,  neck,  throat,  breast  and  upper 
belly  black;  back  and  scapulars  black,  the  latter  margined  with  dark  buffy  ochraceous;  lower 
belly  white;  tail  and  bill  as  in  preceding.  9  in  winter. — -Upperparts  black  or  fuscous;  scapu- 
lars and  upper  back  more  or  less  margined  with  grayish  or  grayish  brown;  sides  of  head  and 
neck  and  sometimes  back  of  neck  white  or  whitish;  breast  grayish;  belly  white;  tail  pointed, 
but  without  long  feathers  of  male;  under  wing-coverts  dark.  Ad.  9  in  summer. — Generally 
similar  to  above,  but  sides  of  head  and  throat  mostly  blackish,  and  feathers  of  upperparts 
more  or  less  margined  with  ochraceous.  L.,  d%  21.00.  9,  16.00;  W..  8.60;  T.,  d%  8.00,  9, 
2.50;  B.,  1.05. 


FIG.  50.     OLD-SQUAW    (adult  male). 

Remarks. — The  male  Old-squaw  is  too  distinct  to  be  confused  with  any  other  species,  its 
long  tail-feathers  being  its  most  striking  character;  the  female  bears  some  resemblance  to  the 
female  of  the  Harlequin  Duck,  but  has  the  belly  pure  white  instead  of  grayish  dusky.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — -Northern  Hemisphere,  breeding  in  the  far  North,  wintering  from  Gulf  of  St.  Law- 
rence to  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter,  not  common;  occasional  inland. 

As  beautiful  in  looks  as  it  is  undesirable  in  taste.  D wight  W.  Huntington 
in  Our  Feathered  Game  says:  "It  is  a  swift  flyer,  expert  diver,  a  fish-eater,  and 
a  tough  and  undesirable  bird  for  the  table.  Its  evolutions  in  the  air  are  said  to  be 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


81 


beautiful  in  the  springtime,  when  the  males  chase  the  females  about  and  all  dive 
from  the  air  into  the  water."  The  Old-squaw  is  a  common  winter  resident  in  our 
open  sounds  and  bays.  About  Cape  Hatteras  it  is  known  as  the  "Knock  Molly." 

"Late  on  the  evening  of  an  exceedingly  cold  day  in  December,  1902,  the  writer 
entered  Kitty  Hawk  Bay  aboard  a  small  sailing  vessel.  Scattered  about  the  bay 
were  noticed  perhaps  fifteen  Old-squaw  Ducks.  They  exhibited  little  disposition  to 
fly  and  two  specimens  were  shot  from  the  boat.  One  of  these  was  only  wing-tipped. 
The  boat  was  jibed  and  a  short  pursuit  followed.  The  bird  swam  rapidly  ahead, 
glancing  frequently  over  its  back,  but  did  not  attempt  to  dive." — PEARSON. 

Wounded  ducks  of  many  species  are  to  be  found  in  North  Carolina  waters  in 
the  spring  after  the  northward  flight  has  passed.  At  New  Inlet,  on  May  13,  1898, 
Pearson  secured  such  a  bird,  an  Old-squaw  in  perfect  summer  plumage.  The 
specimen  is  now  in  the  State  Museum. 

This  species  may  be  regarded  as  very  rare  inland.  Cairns  took  a  male  in  Bun- 
combe County  in  1897.  One  was  killed  in  Wake  County  in  the  winter  of  1909-10 
and  brought  in  the  flesh  to  C.  S.  Brimley. 


FJG.   51.     KING  EIDER    (adult  male). 

Genus  Somateria  (Leach) 
61.  Somateria  spectabilis  (Linn.).    KING  EIDER. 

Ad.  cf. — Region  aboxit  base  of  upper  mandible  and  a  large  V-shaped  mark  on  throat  black; 
top  of  head  bluish  gray;  cheeks  greenish;  neck  all  around  white;  front  and  sides  of  breast 
creamy  buff;  upper  back,  sides  of  rump,  and  wing-coverts  white;  rest  of  plumage  black.  Ad. 
?• — Head  and  throat  buffy  ochraceous,  the  former  streaked  with  black;  back  black,  the 
feathers  widely  margined  with  ochraceous  or  rufous;  underparts  varying  from  brownish  gray 
to  fuscous,  more  or  less  washed,  especially  on  breast,  with  ochraceous  or  rufous.  /TO. — Paler 
and  with  less  ochraceous.  L.,  23.00;  W.,  10.80;  Tar.,  1.80;  B.,  1.30. 

Remarks. — The  adult  male  of  this  species  may  at  once  be  known  by  its  bluish  gray  head 
and  the  V-shaped  mark  on  its  throat.  Females  and  young  birds  resemble  those  of  the  two 
other  species  of  eider,  but  are  to  be  distinguished  by  the  generally  unstreaked  throat  and  the 
feathering  of  the  side  of  the  base  of  the  bill,  which  in  this  species  does  not,  as  in  the  two 
previously  mentioned,  reach  to  the  nostril.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

6 


82  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Range. — Northern  portion  of  Northern  Hemisphere,  coastwise,  in  winter  regularly  to  Long 
Island,  casually  to  Georgia. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Occasional  along  coast. 

Eiders  belong  essentially  to  arctic  seas.  In  winter  they  appear  in  limited  num- 
bers in  the  ocean  off  the  coast  of  the  United  States,  regularly  as  far  south  as  New 
York.  Their  food  consists  largely  of  shellfish  of  many  varieties;  hence  their  flesh 
is  but  little  sought  for  the  table. 

It  appears  that  they  come  but  seldom  to  our  coast.  Cooke,  in  his  publication, 
"Distribution  of  North  American  Ducks,  Geese,  and  Swans,"  states  that  in  the  year 
1897  King  Eiders  were  taken  in  Virginia  and  South  Carolina.  Again  in  1890  and 
1904  they  most  probably  visited  North  Carolina,  for  he  records  their  occurrence 
those  years  on  the  Georgia  coast.  In  December,  1908,  a  flight  reached  our  shores. 
Four  were  killed  at  Oregon  Inlet,  in  Dare  County,  on  December  3.  Two  of  these 
were  later  presented  to  John  E.  Thayer  of  Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  and  are  now 
in  his  collection.  On  the  16th  of  the  same  month  an  immature  female  was  shot  at 
Pea  Island,  Dare  County,  by  J.  R.  Roberson,  and  presented  to  Bishop,  who  was 
on  the  island  at  the  time.  Bishop  writes  that  others  were  locally  reported  to  have 
been  taken  in  the  region  at  a  slightly  earlier  date. 

The  Eider,  Somateria  dresseri  Sharpe,  has  been  known  to  come  as  far  south  as  Virginia,  and 
hence  is  not  unlikely  to  occur  on  our  coast.  In  this  species  there  is  no  V-shaped  black  mark 
on  the  throat  in  the  male,  while  the  top  of  head  is  mainly  black,  and  the  scapulars  and  tertials 
are  white.  In  the  female  the  feathering  on  the  top  of  the  bill  does  not  extend  more  than 
halfway  to  the  nostril,  and  that  on  the  lores  reaches  forward  to  below  the  hind  end  of  the 
nostril.  Size  same  as  King  Eider. 

Genus  Oidemia  (Flem.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Wing  with  a  white  patch  in  both  sexes.     White-winged  Scoter. 

1.  Wing  without  white  patch.     See  2. 

2.  Nostrils  in  middle  of  bill.     No  white.     Scoter. 

2.  Nostrils  beyond  middle  of  bill.     Head  with  some  white.     Surf  Scoter. 


FIG.   52.     SCOTEE   (adult  male). 


62.  Oidemia  americana  (Swains.).    SCOTER. 

Ad.  cf. — Entire  plumage  black,  feathers  on  side  of  bill  extending  little  if  any  forward  be- 
yond corner  of  mouth;  bill  black;  upper  mandible  orange  or  yellowish  at  the  base.  Ad.  9 
and  Im. — Above  chest  and  sides  grayish  brown;  cheeks  whitish,  sharply  denned  from  crown; 


DESCEIPTIVE  LIST  83 


belly  whitish  faintly  barred  with  dusky.  L.,  19.00;  W.,  9.00:  Tar.,  1.70;  B.  along  culmen,  1.75; 
B.  along  side,  1.85.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America  and  eastern  Asia,  breeding  in  northeastern  Asia,  and  extreme  north- 
ern America;  winters  as  far  south  as  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter. 

The  Scoter  is  a  common  winter  species  in  Pamlico  and  Core  sounds,  but  is  more 
numerous,  perhaps,  on  the  ocean,  especially  in  favorable  weather.  "Sea  Coot"  is 
the  common  local  name  for  this  and  the  two  following  species.  All  three  of  the 
Scoters  occur  regularly  during  the  winter  on  New  River,  in  Onslow  County.  They 
all  come  in  readily  to  Blackhead  decoys. 

63.  Oidemia  deglandi  (Bonap.).    WHITE-WINGED  SCOTER. 

Ad.  d". — A  spot  below  eye  and  speculum  white,  rest  of  plumage  black;  bill  orange,  black  at 
base,  the  feathers  on  it  reaching  forward  far  beyond  corners  of  mouth.  Ad.  ?  and  Im.<?. — • 
Grayish  or  fuscous-brown,  lighter  below;  speculum  white,  feathers  at  base  of  upper  bill  and  a 
spot  on  the  ears  whitish.  L.,  22.00;  W.,  11.00;  Tar.,  2.00;  B.  along  culmen,  1.50;  B.  along 
side,  1.55. 

Remarks. — The  white  speculum  and  feathering  of  the  bill  will  always  serve  to  distinguish 
this  species  from  its  allies.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States,  wintering  from  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence  to  North  Carolina  or  farther  south. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter. 


FIG.  53.     WHITE-WINGED  SCOTER   (adult  male). 

This  bird  is  often  seen  associated  with  the  two  other  scoters;  in  fact,  the  habits 
of  the  three  are  very  similar.  None  of  the  scoters  are  much  shot  in  North  Carolina 
waters.  New  England  sportsmen  hunt  them  persistently,  probably  for  the  lack  of 
better  fowl,  as  the  Scoters  are  among  the  most  numerous  of  all  sea-fowl  on  those 
bleak  shores.  Usually  they  are  shot  from  boats,  a  long  line  of  which  are  anchored 
off  shore  at  right  angles  to  the  coast  in  a  territory  much  frequented  by  the  birds 
in  flight.  In  winter  they  occur  regularly  in  large  numbers  on  Pamlico  Sound. 

64.  Oidemia  perspicillata  (Linn.).    SURF  SCOTER. 

Ad.  cf. — A  square  mark  on  crown  and  a  triangular  one  on  nape  white,  rest  of  plumage 
black;  bill  with  white,  red  and  yellow,  a  black  spot  on  its  side  at  base;  feathers  on  culmen 
extending  nearly  to  a  level  with  nostril,  feathers  on  side  of  bill  not  extending  forward.  Ad.  9 
and  Im. — A  whitish  spot  at  base  of  the  bill  and  on  ears;  upperparts  fuscous-brown;  throat, 
breast,  sides  and  lower  belly  grayer,  belly  white.  L.,  20.00;  W.,  9.30;  Tar.,  1.60;  B.  along 
culmen,  1.55;  B.  along  side,  2.30. 


84  BIKDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Remarks. — The  forward  extension  of  the  feathers  on  the  culmen  will  always  distinguish  this 
species  from  0.  americana,  while  it  may  be  known  from  deglandi  by  the  absence  of  white  in 
the  wings.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  far  northward;  winters  from  Nova  Scotia  to  North  Caro- 
lina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter. 


FIG.   54.     SURF  SCOTER   (adult  male). 

In  writing  of  Surf  Scoters  on  the  New  England  coast,  George  H.  Mackey  in 
The  Auk  for  July,  1891,  says,  "they  feed  on  black  mussels  (Modiola  modiolus), 
small  sea-clams  (S-pisula  solidissimd) ,  scallops  (Peclen  concentricus) ,  and  short 
razor-shells  (Siliqua  costata),  about  an  inch  to  an  inch  and  a  half  long,  which  they 
obtain  by  diving.  Mussels  measuring  two  and  a  half  inches  by  one  inch  have  been 
taken  from  them;  but  usually  they  select  sea  clams  and  scallops,  varying  in  size 
from  a  five-cent  nickel  piece  to  a  quarter  of  a  dollar.  They  can  feed  in  about  forty 
feet  of  water,  but  prefer  less  than  half  that  depth."  Bishop  records  Surf  Scoters 
in  large  numbers  at  Pea  Island  in  1901  as  late  as  May  15. 

This  bird  is  sometimes  known  as  "Skunk  Head,"  the  name  being  evidently 
derived  from  the  sharply  contrasted  black  and  white  markings. 

Genus  Erismatura  (Bonap.) 
65.  Erismatura  jamaicensis  (Gmel).    RUDDY  DUCK. 

Ad.  <?. — 'Top  of  head  black,  cheeks  and  chin  white,  throat  and  back  rufous-chestnut,  lower 
back  blackish;  breast  and  belly  silvery  white;  upper  tail-coverts  very  short,  tail-feathers  stiff 
and  pointed;  bill  blue.  Ad.  9  and  Im. — Upperparts  dark  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  marked 
with  fine  wavy  bars  of  buffy;  sides  of  head  and  upper  throat  whitish,  lower  throat  grayish, 
rest  of  underparts  silvery  white.  L.,  15.00;  W.,  5.90;  Tar.,  1.15;  B.,  1.55. 

Remarks. — The  short  upper  tail-coverts  and  stiff,  pointed  tail-feathers  will  always  serve  to 
identify  this  species.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  mainly  northerly,  but  locally  and  rarely  as  far  south  even 
as  the  West  Indies;  winters  from  Maine  to  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  85 


This  is  one  of  the  smallest  as  well  as  the  most  trustful  and  unsuspicious  of  our 
ducks.  It  does  not  decoy  readily  though  it  appears  to  have  little  fear  of  the  gunner. 
It  is  a  strong  diver,  but  when  alarmed  prefers,  if  given  a  fair  chance,  to  escape  by 
flight.  This  it  accomplishes  by  taking  wing  slowly  along  the  surface  of  the  water 
with  head  directly  to  the  wind.  It  has  not  been  many  years  since  the  market- 
hunter  began  to  shoot  these  plump  little  birds,  which  formerly  swam  or  flew  about 
him  unnoticed.  The  high  prices  they  command  of  late  have  drawn  to  them  the 
aim  of  gunners  throughout  their  range,  and  as  a  natural  result  the  "Boobies"  show 
a  marked  decrease  in  number.  A  popular  method  of  killing  is  to  "  ring  shoot "  them 
from  a  number  of  boats  which  have  surrounded  a  feeding  flock. 


FIG.  55.     BUDDY  DUCK  (adult  male). 

Twenty  years  ago  this  duck  was  very  common  on  Currituck  Sound  and  in  the 
waters  around  New  Bern.  At  that  time,  in  Currituck,  all  ducks  other  than  Canvas- 
back  and  Redhead  were  classed  as  "  common  ducks,"  and  brought  about  thirty  cents 
a  pair  to  the  market-gunners.  In  counting  the  smaller  species — among  which  was 
the  Ruddy  Duck — four  specimens  were  required  to  make  a  "pair." 

A  peculiarity  of  this  duck  in  those  days  was  its  disinclination  to  cross  land  in 
trying  to  escape  the  gunner.  A  bunch  that  could  be  worked  up  a  creek,  or  into  a 
narrow  bay,  by  a  careful  maneuvering  of  the  boat,  would  thus  afford  good  shooting 
when  the  birds  finally  attempted  to  escape  back  to  the  open  water. 

SUBFAMILY  ANSERIN/E  (GEESE) 

Genus  Chen  (Boie) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Plumage  chiefly  grayish  brown,  the  rump  and  wing-coverts  bluish  gray.     Blue  Goose. 

1.  Plumage  of  adult  chiefly  white,  the  young  grayish  white.     See  2. 

2.  L.,  23.00  to  28.00;  W.,  14.50  to  17.00.     Snow  Goose. 

2.  L.,  30.00  to  38.00;  W.,  17.35  to  17.50.     Greater  Snow  Goose. 

66.  Chen  hyperboreus  hyperboreus  (Pall.').    SNOW  GOOSE. 

Description. — Entire  plumage,  except  primaries  with  their  coverts,  white;  primaries  black, 
their  bases  and  coverts  ashy.  Im. — -"Head,  neck  and  upper  parts  pale  grayish,  the  feathers 
of  the  latter  with  whitish  edges  and  (especially  wing-coverts  and  tertials)  striped  medially  with 


86 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


darker;  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  tail  and  lower  parts  plain  white.  L.,  23.00-28.00;  W.,  14.50- 
17.00;  B.,  1.95-2.30;  Tar.,  2.80-3.25"  (Ridgw.).  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  far  northerly,  in  winter  restricted  mainly  to  the  more 
western  States;  rare  in  the  east. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Accidental  on  the  coast. 

Here  we  have  a  western  bird,  more  commonly  known  in  California  and  on  the 
marshes  of  the  Louisiana  coast  which  it  frequents  in  winter.  Apparently  it  is 
quite  rare  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  we  know  of  its  appearing  in  North  Carolina 
upon  one  occasion  only.  Bishop  writes  that  he  examined  in  the  flesh  a  female  taken 
by  Dr.  C.  C.  Bush  at  Pea  Island,  February  5,  1906. 

67.  Chen  hyperboreus  nivalis  (Forst.).    GREATER  SNOW  GOOSE. 

Description. — Similar  to  the  preceding  in  color,  but  larger.     L.,  35.00;  W.,  17.50;  B.,  2.60. 
Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  far  northerly,  in  winter  from  Chesapeake   Bay 
to  West  Indies. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Portions  of  coastal  region  in  winter. 


FIG.  56.     GREATER  SNOW  GOOSE. 

The  "  White  Brant,"  as  the  Greater  Snow  Goose  is  almost  universally  known  to 
gunners,  is  a  rare  bird  along  the  southern  half  of  the  North  Carolina  coast.  On 
January  1,  1903,  Pearson  saw  one  standing  among  the  sand  dunes  at  Cape  Hat- 
teras.  It  showed  no  disposition  to  fly  until  his  horse  and  cart  approached  within 
fifty  yards.  Then  it  sprang  into  the  air,  and  heading  up  wind  flew  rapidly  for 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  87 


several  hundred  yards,  the  black  wing-tips  contrasting  strongly  with  the  pure  white 
plumage.  It  was  followed  for  an  hour  or  more,  and  in  the  course  of  its  various 
nights  completely  circled  the  lighthouse. 

A  bunch  of  Snow  Geese  frequented  the  waters  of  Core  Sound  in  the  winter  of 
1892-3.  A  pair  from  this  flock  was  sent  to  the  State  Museum  in  the  flesh  from 
Beaufort.  Two  specimens  were  taken  on  Trent  River,  near  New  Bern,  in  1884. 

A  flock  every  winter  inhabits  the  beaches  between  Currituck  Sound  and  the  ocean. 
Writing  of  this  fact  in  American  Duck  Shooting,  Grinnell  says:  "These  birds  do 
not  seem  to  associate  with  the  common  gray  geese,  but  keep  to  themselves,  and  feed 
largely  on  the  marsh  instead  of  in  the  water.  Sometimes  I  have  sailed  within  gun- 
shot of  this  flock  of  500,  and  their  white  heads  appearing  over  the  short  marsh 
grass,  which  hides  their  bodies,  have  a  very  curious  appearance.  When  fairly 
alarmed,  they  spring  into  the  air  and  fly  away  with  sharp,  cackling  cries,  much  less 
musical  than  those  of  the  common  Canada  Geese." 

The  White  Brant's  flesh  is  not  very  palatable,  and  the  birds  are  seldom,  if  ever, 
hunted  in  this  State. 

A  peculiarity  of  this  bird  is  the  reddish-brown  stain  often  in  evidence  on  the 
head  and  neck. 

68.  Chen  cserulescens  (Linn.).    BLUE  GOOSE. 

Ads. — Head  and  upper  neck  white;  middle  of  hindneck  sometimes  blackish,  lower  neck  all 
around  fuscous,  rest  of  underparts  brownish  gray  edged  with  buffy;  lower  belly  generally  paler, 
sometimes  white;  upper  back  and  scapulars  like  breast;  lower  back,  rump  and  upper  tail- 
coverts  gray;  tail  fuscous  gray  edged  with  whitish;  wing-coverts  like  the  rump  or  slightly  darker, 
with  little  or  no  whitish  margins;  wing-quills  and  tertials  fuscous,  the  latter  more  or  less  mar- 
gined with  whitish.  Im. — "Similar  to  adult,  but  head  and  neck  uniform  deep  grayish  brown, 
only  the  chin  being  white.  L.,  26.50-30.00;  W.,  15.00-17.00;  B.,  2.10-2.30;  Tar.,  3.00-3.30" 
(Ridgw.).  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  in  winter  mainly  in  Mississippi  Valley,  rare  on  Atlantic 
coast. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Once  recorded  from  Beaufort. 

This  is  another  western  bird,  which  occurs  but  rarely  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 
Atkinson  states  that  he  examined  a  live  specimen  in  the  possession  of  S.  J.  Moore 
of  Beaufort,  which  had  been  captured  on  Bogue  Beach,  one  mile  from  Fort  Macon, 
by  James  Willis  of  Morehead  City  in  the  spring  of  1884.  (Proceedings  Elisha 
Mitchell  Scientific  Society,  1887,  p.  56.) 

Genus  Anser  (Briss.) 

69.  Anser  albifrons  gambeli  (Hartl).    WHITE-FRONTED  GOOSE. 

Description. — Grayish  brown,  the  forepart  of  the  head  in  adult  white,  lower  parts  grayish 
white,  blotched  or  spotted  with  black;  anal  region,  crissum,  and  tail-coverts  white;  young 
similar,  but  no  white  on  head  nor  black  on  underparts.  L.,  27.00-30.00;  W.,  14.50^17.50. 

Range. — Central  and  western  North  America,  breeding  far  northerly,  winters  mainly  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  rare  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Once  recorded  from  Currituck. 

Seldom  has  this  goose  been  recorded  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard.  The  one  positive 
record  of  its  appearing  in  North  Carolina  is  based  on  the  reception  at  the  State 
Museum  of  a  specimen  taken  in  Currituck  Sound  during  January,  1897.  It  was 
sent  by  Captain  T.  J.  Poyner. 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


FIG.  57.     WHITE-FRONTED  GOOSE    (adult). 

Genus  Branta  (Scop.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

Comprises  geese  with  the  bill  and  feet  black,  and  with  at  least  some  part  of  the 
head  black. 

1.  Head  entirely  black.     Brant. 

1.  Head  with  some  white.     See  2. 

2.  Head  mainly  black,  with  a  triangular  patch  of  white  on  each  cheek,  these  joining  under 

throat.     Canada  Goose. 
2.  Head  mainly  white,  the  lores,  occiput,  neck,  and  chest  black.     Barnacle  Goose. 

70.  Branta  canadensis  canadensis  (Linn.}.    CANADA  GOOSE. 

Ads. — -Throat  and  a  large  patch  on  side  of  head  behind  eye  white  or  whitish;  chin  and  rest 
of  head  and  neck  black;  back  and  wings  grayish  brown,  more  or  less  edged  with  lighter;  tail 
and  shorter  upper  tail-coverts  black,  longer  and  lateral  ones  white;  breast  and  belly  grayish, 
fading  to  white  on  lower  belly;  sides  like  back.  Im. — -Similar,  but  throat  and  cheeks  sometimes 
mixed  with  blackish.  "L.,  35.00-43.00;  W.,  15.60-21.00;  Tar.,  2.45-3.70;  B.,  1.55-2.70"  (Ridgw.). 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — -Temperate  North  America,  breeding  from  the  northern  States  northward  to  the  tree 
limit. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Mainly  coastal  region  in  winter.  In  the  migrations  likely  to 
occur  anywhere  in  the  State. 

In  the  days  of  early  autumn  comes  to  one's  ears  the  deep  trumpet-call  of  an  old 
gander,  and  looking  up  one  may  see  a  V-shaped  flock  of  wild  geese  passing  over, 
their  backs  seeming  to  scrape  the  very  sky.  Few  sights  in  nature  so  stir  the  imagi- 
nation of  mankind!  Somewhere  far  to  the  north,  perhaps  on  the  tundras  within 
the  shaclovv*  of  the  frozen  pole,  these  birds  have  passed  the  summer,  and  now  upon 
the  approach  of  winter  something  calls  them  on  their  long  journey,  to  be  ended 
only  in  the  sounds  of  Carolina  or  maybe  the  lagoons  of  the  Gulf  Coast. 

About  their  summer  homes  many  of  them  have  been  harassed  by  the  Eskimo  and 
Indian,  who  pursued  them  with  dogs  when  they  were  unable  to  fly  during  the  molt- 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  89 


ing  season.  In  the  stubble-fields  of  the  West,  gunners  have  lurked  for  them  in  pits 
near  which  were  skillfully  placed  metallic  profile-decoys.  Soon  in  the  eastern 
waters  of  North  Carolina  market-gunners  and  sportsmen  will  be  taking  their  yearly 
toll  of  the  flocks. 

Yet,  despite  the  constant  persecution  to  which  these  geese  are  subjected,  they 
retain  their  numbers  most  remarkably.  In  favorable  weather  it  is  not  an  uncom- 
mon sight  to  see  ten  thousand  during  one  day's  sail  through  Pamlico  or  Currituck 
Sound. 

Canada  Geese  are  easily  domesticated  and  often  live  to  a  ripe  old  age.  In  1902  a 
gander  was  shown  to  Pearson  owned  by  a  man  at  Poplar  Branch,  Currituck  County, 
which  was  generally  reported  in  the  neighborhood  to  be  sixty-one  years  of  age. 
Domesticated  birds  do  not  mate  readily,  and  the  man  who  owns  a  flock  of  thirty  or 
forty  birds  may  be  well  satisfied  if  eight  or  ten  pairs  of  his  geese  are  mated.  These 
domesticated  birds  are  much  used  as  decoys,  and  indeed  the  hunter  has  need  of  all 
available  aids  to  secure  the  wary  Wild  Goose.  We  have  shot  them  from  blind,  bat- 
tery, and  sink-box,  and  on  many  occasions  have  been  impressed  anew  with  the 
wisdom  and  cunning  of  these  powerful  gray-winged  flyers. 

"Where  is  the  man  who  forgets  the  first  time  he  ever  shot  at  these  magnificent 
birds?  I  well  remember  my  first  attempt — though  it  occurred  more  years  ago  than 
I  will  confess.  Currituck  Sound  was  the  place,  and  the  blind  was  on  a  little  reedy 
island  well  out  from  shore.  Cold  and  shivering,  the  boatman  and  I  were  crouching 
low  behind  the  reedy  screen,  when  a  bunch  of  five  were  seen  coming  in.  Straight 
up  to  the  decoys  they  drove,  dropped  their  feet,  and  alighted  just  outside.  Spring- 
ing to  my  feet,  I  fired  two  loads  of  BB  shot  as  the  great  gray  birds  lumbered  into 
the  air — and  did  not  touch  a  feather.  What  the  boatman  thought  and  what  the 
shooter  said  are  not  on  record,  but  many  a  big  goose  has  dropped  to  my  gun  since, 
and  there  is  no  feeling  of  resentment  left  for  those  five  that  got  away  unscathed. 

"More  and  more  are  live  decoys  taking  the  place  of  the  artificial  ones.  I  have 
seen  tried  (and  shot  over  myself)  the  flat  profile  decoy,  the  hollow  wooden  image, 
and  the  inflated,  water-proof  kind;  but  a  few  live  birds  are,  in  my  opinion,  worth 
a  boat-load  of  all  other  kinds." — H.  H.  BRIMLEY. 

Although  an  abundant  species  along  our  coast  in  winter,  comparatively  few  are 
seen  far  in  the  interior.  C.  S.  Brimley  observes  that  years  ago  flocks  were  fre- 
quently seen  flying  over  Raleigh,  but  he  has  not  observed  any  in  recent  years. 
Many  gunners  unite  in  the  statement  that  the  moonlight  nights  of  April  is  the 
favorite  time  for  the  big  flight  to  leave  for  the  North.  On  May  16,  1898,  Pearson 
saw  a  flock  of  eighteen  near  Cape  Hatteras,  a  date  which  his  guide  assured  him  was 
an  unusually  late  one. 

71.  Branta  bernicla  glaucogastra  (Brehm.).    BRANT. 

Description. — Brownish,  head  and  neck  black,  the  latter  with  a  patch  of  whitish  streaks  on 
each  side.  L.,  24.00-30.00;  W.,  12.50-13.50. 

Range. — Northern  Hemisphere,  breeding  in  the  Arctic  regions,  in  winter  from  Massachu- 
setts to  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Coastal  region  in  winter. 


90  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


"In  Pamlico  Sound  the  long  extended  lines  of  submerged  sand-bars  and  mud- 
flats, with  their  abundant  supplies  of  eel-grass,  make  an  ideal  winter  resort  for  the 
Brant.  They  arrive  from  the  North  usually  early  in  November,  but  the  exact  date 
depends  much  upon  weather  conditions.  In  flight  they  usually  go  in  compact  flocks 
without  any  apparent  leader.  They  move  slowly  and  often  appear  loath  to  leave 
a  favorite  feeding  ground,  even  returning  to  it  many  times  after  being  disturbed. 


FIG.  58.     BRANT. 

"As  the  flesh  is  much  esteemed  for  food,  large  numbers  are  annually  killed  and 
shipped  to  northern  markets.  In  North  Carolina  it  is  customary  to  hunt  them  with 
the  aid  of  wooden  decoys.  Twenty-five  or  thirty  Brant  decoys,  together  with  per- 
haps a  hundred  others  painted  to  represent  Redheads,  Canvasbacks,  and  Black- 
heads are  anchored  near  a  blind  or  floating  battery  in  shoal  water,  often  two  or 
three  miles  from  land.  Here  the  hunter,  well  concealed,  awaits  the  game  which, 
lured  from  a  distance  by  the  flock  of  bobbing  decoys,  draws  near  to  join  their  sup- 
posed friends.  The  birds  fly  slowly  and  often  flit  entirely  around  the  battery  before 
heading  up  to  windward  preparatory  to  alighting.  While  in  this  position,  with  the 
breast  presented,  feet  lowered,  and  wings  expanded,  the  Brant  presents  a  mark 
which  even  the  amateur  sportsman  cannot  easily  miss.  If  about  to  pass  unnoticed, 
the  gunner  may  frequently  attract  them  by  raising  and  lowering  his  foot  or  slowly 
lifting  his  cap  aloft.  I  have  seen  them  attempt  to  pitch  among  decoys  after  the 
attendant's  boat  had  approached  and  two  or  three  men  were  wading  about  gather- 
ing them  in. 

"On  clear  winter  days,  as  one  sails  along  the  reefs  in  the  region  about  Ocracoke 
or  Hatteras,  flocks  of  Brant,  disturbed  from  their  feeding  areas,  arise  in  almost 
constant  succession  for  miles,  their  numbers  running  far  into  the  tens  of  thousands. 
When  heavy  winds  arise  these  large  rafts  are  broken  up,  and  later  when  the  birds 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  91 


are  flying  singly  or  in  small  companies,  they  readily  draw  to  decoys.  It  is  then  that 
the  gunners  get  in  their  most  telling  work,  bags  of  seventy-five  or  a  hundred  birds 
being  sometimes  taken  in  a  day.  Near  Cape  Hatteras  I  once  lay  in  a  battery  near 
a  local  gunner,  who  shot  fifty  Brant  between  the  hours  of  10  a.  m.  and  2  p.  m.,  and 
the  size  of  his  kill  in  four  hours  occasioned  no  particular  comment  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. 

"Brant  retire  to  the  far  North  upon  the  approach  of  spring,  furnishing  much 
shooting  for  the  gunners  en  route.  They  gather  in  great  numbers  to  breed  on  the 
cliffs  and  shores  of  Hudson  Bay  and  the  little  known  islands  of  the  Arctic  Sea." — 
PEARSON. 

72.  Branta  leucopsis  (Bechst.).    BARNACLE  GOOSE. 

Description. — Brownish,  head  mainly  white,  the  occiput,  lores,  neck,  and  chest  black.  L., 
24.00-28.00;  W.,  15.00-17.00. 

Range. — Northern  Europe,  occasional  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  North  America. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — Has  been  taken  twice  on  Currituck  Sound. 

This  handsome  goose,  about  the  size  of  the  Brant,  is  of  rare  occurrence  in 
America,  where  in  fact  it  appears  to  come  only  as  a  wanderer  from  the  eastern 
hemisphere.  Few  specimens  have  been  reported  from  the  United  States.  Two  of 
these  were  killed  in  Currituck  Sound,  one  on  October  31,  1870  (Cooke,  Distribution 
and  Migration  of  North  American  Ducks,  Geese,  and  Swans).  The  other  was  taken 
by  William  S.  Post  of  New  York,  on  November  22,  1892.  (Reported  in  a  letter.) 

Genus  Dendrocygna  (Swains.) 

73.  Dendrocygna  bicolor  (VieilL).    FULVOUS  TREE  DUCK. 

Description. — Pale  yellowish  brown,  darker  on  head  and  streaked  with  lighter  on  flanks, 
black  line  on  nape  and  down  back  of  neck;  rump  and  tail  black,  lower  and  upper  tail-coverts 
white;  lesser  wing-coverts  brown,  rest  of  wing  black.  L.,  20.00;  W.,  9.50;  T.,  3.25.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range.— Southwestern  United  States  and  southward  through  Central  and  South  America; 
casual  in  Louisiana  in  summer. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Accidental  on  Currituck  Sound. 

A  Fulvous  Tree  Duck  was  taken  near  Swan  Island  Club  in  Currituck  Sound 
during  July,  1886,  and  forwarded  by  W.  Sohier  to  the  National  Museum,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  This  odd,  long-legged,  goose-like  bird  is  said  to  be  found  only  on 
bodies  of  fresh  or  brackish  waters,  and  at  times  will  visit  cornfields  in  quest  of 
grain.  Grinnell,  in  American  Duck  Shooting,  says  it  "is  exceedingly  unsuspicious 
and  readily  permits  approach,  so  that  many  of  them  are  killed.  When  crippled, 
however,  their  strong  legs  enable  them  to  run  very  fast,  and,  like  all  ducks,  they 
are  expert  hiders,  getting  into  the  grass  and  lying  there  without  moving." 

Genus  Olor  (Wagl.) 

74.  Olor  columbianus  (Ord.)    WHISTLING  SWAN. 

Ads. — White;  bill  and  feet  black;  a  small  yellow  spot  on  the  lores;  tail  usually  with  but  20 
feathers.  Im. — Head  and  neck  brownish  and  rest  of  plumage  more  or  less  washed  with  gray- 
ish; bill  and  feet  light.  L.,  55.00;  W.,  22.00;  Tar.,  4.0C;  Eye  to  N.,  2.40;  N.  to  tip  of  B.,  2.25. 


92 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Remarks. — Few  unquestionably  distinct  species  of  birds  resemble  each  other  more  closely, 
superficially,  than^do  the  Whistling  and  Trumpeter  Swans.  In  freshly  killed  specimens,  at 
least  in  the  spring,  the  yellow  on  the  bill  of  the  former  and  red  on  the  bill  of  the  latter  is 
wholly  and  sufficiently  diagnostic.  Lacking  these  characters,  which  are  always  wanting  in 
old,  dried  skins,  the  birds  can  be  distinguished  by  the  larger  size  of  buccinator  in  connection 
with  the  fact  that  its  nostrils  are  nearer  the  center  of  the  bill  than  in  columbianus  (which  has 
them  nearer  the  tip),  while  buccinator  usually  has  24,  instead  of  the  20  tail-feathers  of  colum- 
bianus. (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  far  northward;  in  winter  from  Delaware  to  South  Caro- 
lina, and  westward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Mainly  on  Currituck  Sound  in  winter. 


FIG.  59.     WHISTLING  SWAN. 


The  Whistling  Swan  is  the  largest  of  our  water-fowl;  and  when  swans  gather, 
as  they  often  do  in  immense  flocks,  the  mass  of  snowy  plumage  presents  a  sight 
comparable  only  to  a  snow-bank  or  glistening  ice-floe.  They  rise  heavily  against 
the  wind,  but  when  a  safe  altitude  has  been  reached,  the  flock,  with  set  wings,  sails 
along  in  a  manner  truly  magnificent. 

Swans  feed  in  shallow  water,  reaching  down  with  their  long  necks  for  the  water- 
grasses,  small  shellfish,  and  Crustacea,  which  compose  their  chief  diet.  They  are 
common  winter  residents  in  Currituck  Sound,  some  few  wandering  regularly  south 
of  Roanoke  Island.  Small  flocks  are  found  in  Pamlico  Sound,  but  they  are  not 
often  seen  in  the  State  south  of  there.  Occasionally  some  straggler  wanders  inland. 
Such  a  one  was  killed  on  the  Tar  River  near  Louisburg  in  Franklin  County  by 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  93 


J.  J.  Allen  in  December,  1903,  and  sent  to  the  State  Museum.  One  was  shot  on 
a  mill  pond  near  Greensboro  in  January,  1904,  and  exhibited  for  some  days  in  the 
town  at  Clegg's  Hotel.  Pearson  found  one  hanging  in  a  market  at  Wilmington, 
December  26,  1893,  which  was  said  to  have  been  killed  on  Wrightsville  Sound. 

A  young  swan  is  fairly  good  food,  but  disappointment  lurks  for  the  hungry  man 
who  attempts  to  partake  of  an  old  one,  unless  the  muscular  tissues  have  first  been 
well  softened  by  many  hours  of  parboiling. 

While  seldom  hunted,  we  have  yet  to  meet  a  wildfowl  gunner  at  work  who  did 
not — when  such  an  act  was  legal — shoot  a  swan  when  opportunity  occurred. 
Comparatively  few,  however,  were  killed  in  North  Carolina  even  then. 

As  is  the  case  with  the  Snow  Goose,  the  head  and  upper  neck  of  the  Whistling 
Swan  are  often  stained  with  reddish-brown. 

VI.  ORDER  HERODIONES.     HERONS,  STORKS,  IBISES,  ETC. 

This  order  is  composed  of  wading-birds,  of  medium  and  large  size,  furnished 
with  unusually  long  necks  and  legs.  The  toes  are  attenuated  and  often  slightly 
webbed  at  the  base.  The  young  are  altricial,  being  only  partly  downy.  This  order 
contains  the  birds  known  as  herons,  ibises,  and  storks,  all  voracious  feeders  on 
snakes,, frogs,  tadpoles,  and  other  aquatic  animal  life.  In  North  Carolina  many  of 
the  representatives  of  this  order  are  commonly  known  as  "Cranes." 

KEY  TO  FAMILIES 

Three  families  occur  in  our  fauna,  to  be  distinguished  by  the  following  key : 

1.  Sides  of  upper  mandible  with  a  deep  narrow  groove,  extending  from  the  nostrils  to  the  tip. 
Ibises.     Ibididce. 

1.  Sides  of  upper  mandible  without  long  deep  groove.     See  2. 

2.  Hind  toe  inserted  more  or  less  above  the  level  of  the  others,  middle  claw  not  pectinate. 

Storks  and  Wood  Ibises.     Ciconiidce. 

2.  Hind  claw  inserted  on  the  level  of  the  rest:  middle  claw  pectinate  on  its  inner  edge.     Herons 
and  Bitterns.     Ardeidoe. 

The  Roseate  Spoonbill,  Ajaia  ajaja- (Linn.),  or  Pink  Curlew,  which  belongs  to  this  order, 
doubtless  occurred  in  North  Carolina  many  years  ago.  There  is  a  statement  by  Barton  in 
Fragments  of  Natural  History,  1799,  that  it  was  sometimes,  though  rarely,  seen  about  the 
mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  North  Carolina.  (W.  W.  Cooke,  U.  S.  Biological  Survey,  in 
letter,  October  13,  1908.) 

When  at  Lockwood's  Folly,  in  the  summer  of  1898,  strong  evidence  was  presented  to  Pear- 
son of  the  killing  of  one  of  these  birds  in  that  locality  ten  years  previously.  They  are  not  now 
known  to  breed  north  of  southern  Florida,  where  they  are  occasionally  found  in  flocks  fre- 
quenting the  margins  of  ponds,  both  inland  and  along  the  coast.  This  is  a  striking  bird, 
from  28  to  35  inches  in  length.  Its  colors  are  mainly  pink  and  white,  and  the  long  bill  is  flat 
and  spoon-shaped,  greatly  widened  near  the  tip. 

14.    FAMILY   IBIDID/E.      IBISES 

Genus  Guara  (Reichenb.)- 

75.  Guara  alba  (Linn.}.    WHITE  IBIS. 

Ads. — White,  the  tips  of  the  four  outer  primaries  black;  bare  parts  of  the  head  orange-red. 
Im. — Head  and  neck  white,  streaked  with  grayish  brown;  upper  back  and  wings  grayish  brown; 
rump,  breast,  and  belly  white.  L.,  25.00;  W.,  11.00;  Tar.,  3.40;  B.  from  N.,  4.60.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  and  South  America,  regularly  from  South  Carolina  to  Brazil  and  Peru. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Occasional  on  our  coast  in  summer. 


94 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  semi-inundated  prairies  of  Florida  appear  to  be  the  great  stronghold  of  the 
White  Ibis  in  the  eastern  United  States.  Here  it  may  often  be  seen  feeding  by 
thousands  in  small  scattered  flocks.  When  alarmed  they  spring  quietly  in  the  air 
and  depart  with  rapidly  beating  wings.  In  flight  their  appearance  is  striking,  the 
extended  neck  and  long  curved  bill  readily  aiding  one  to  distinguish  them  from 
herons.  For  food  they  depend  mainly  on  crayfish  and  other  crustaceans.  When 
roosting  or  engaged  in  nesting  the  White  Ibis  is  found  in  trees,  often  in  some  almost 
inaccessible  swamp.  After  the  breeding  season,  some  individuals  wander  northward 
along  the  Atlantic  coast.  On  July  26,  1898,  Pearson  found  three  immature  birds 


FIG.  60.     WHITE  IBIS. 

feeding  on  the  marshes  of  North  River  near  Beaufort.  One  was  secured  and  is 
now  preserved  in  the  State  Museum.  A  gunner  of  the  region  said  that  the  birds 
were  regular  summer  residents  and  were  known  as  "Stone  Curlews,"  but  during 
various  trips  to  this  and  other  parts  of  the  coast  no  additional  specimens  have  been 
found. 

As  it  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  the  Glossy  Ibis,  Plegadis  autumnalis  (Linn.),  may 
appear  in  North  Carolina,  it  may  be  useful  to  state  that  it  can  be  distinguished  from  the 
White  Ibis  by  the  plumage  of  the  wings  and  tail  being  highly  metallic  in  both  old  and  young. 
Its  range  is  from  the  Gulf  States  southward,  but  it  has  been  known  to  wander  northward  oc- 
casionally as  far  even  as  Nova  Scotia.  It  is  now  a  very  rare  bird,  and  so  far  as  known  breeds 
in  the  United  States  only  on  an  island  owned  and  protected  by  the  National  Association  of 
Audubon  Societies  in  Alachua  County,  Florida. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  95 


15.    FAMILY  CICONIID/E.      STORKS 

Genus  Mycteria  (Linn.) 

76.  Mycteria  americana  (Linn.}.    WOOD  IBIS. 

Ads. — Head  and  neck  bare;  primaries,  secondaries  and  tail  glossy  greenish  black,  rest  of 
plumage  white.  Im. — Head  more  or  less  feathered;  head  and  neck  grayish  brown,  blacker 
on  the  nape;  rest  of  plumage  as  in  the  adult,  but  more  or  less  marked  with  grayish;  wings  and 
tail  less  greenish.  L.,  40.00;  W.,  18.00;  Tar.,  7.60;  B.  from  N.,  8.00.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E. 
N.  A.) 

Range. — North  Carolina  southward  to  Argentina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Occurs  irregularly  in  summer  east  of  the  mountains. 

These  great  birds  occur  in  enormous  flocks  about  the  lakes  and  prairies  of  central 
Florida,  and  may  also  be  met  with  numerously  as  far  north  as  South  Carolina, 
where  Arthur  T.  Wayne  records  them  as  breeding  in  Colleton  County  (Birds  of 
South  Carolina,  p.  26).  Like  the  White  Ibis,  they  migrate  northward  in  limited 
numbers  during  the  summer  months.  One  was  killed  early  in  July,  1884,  at  Garner, 
near  Raleigh,  and  a  number  more  were  reported  to  have  been  seen  at  the  time. 
One  was  secured  at  Chapel  Hill  June  12,  1901;  a  third  specimen  was  taken  at 
Buffalo's  Pond  in  Wake  County,  July  4,  1906;  and  a  fourth  was  killed  June  29, 
1910,  near  Sanford.  A  mounted  specimen,  said  to  have  been  killed  on  the  Catawba 
River  some  years  ago,  was  observed  by  Wayne  at  Morganton  (see  Auk,  Jan.,  1910). 

16.    FAMILY  ARDEID/E.      HERONS  AND  BITTERNS 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Tail-feathers  10,  very  short,  scarcely  stiff er  than  the  coverts;  outer  toe  decidedly  shorter 
than  the  inner;  claws  lengthened,  slightly  curved.     Bitterns.     See  2. 

1.  Tail-feathers  12,  more  lengthened  and  decidedly  stiff  er  than  the  coverts;  outer  toe  at  least 

as  long  as  the  inner;  claws  comparatively  short  and  strongly  curved.     Herons.     See  3. 

2.  Size  small,  wing  less  than  6.     Ixobrychus. 

2.  Size  large,  wing  more  than  9.     Botaurus. 

3.  Bill  comparatively  long  and  narrow,  the  culmen  equal  to  at  least  four  times  the  greatest 

depth  of  bill.     See  4. 

3.  Bill  comparatively  short  and  thick,  the  culmen  not  more  than  four  times  the  greatest  depth 

of  bill.     Night  Herons.     See  9. 

4.  Color  always  entirely  pure  white.     See  5. 

4.  Color  not  wholly  white;  at  least  the  tips  of  the  wing-quills  of  another  color.     See  6. 

5.  Wing  14  or  more.     Herodias. 

5.  Wing  less  than  11.     Egretta. 

6.  Wing  17  or  more.     Ardea. 

6.  Wing  less  than  12.     See  7. 

7.  Wing  less  than  8.     Butorides. 

7.  Wing  more  than  8.     See  8. 

8.  Culmen  decidedly  shorter  than  tarsus,  the  latter  more  than  \y%  times  as  long  as  middle  toe 

without  claw.     Florida. 

8.  Culmen  equal  to  or  longer  than  tarsus,  the  latter  less  than  lJ-£  times  as  long  as  middle  toe 

without  claw.     Hydranassa. 

9.  Culmen  about  as  long  as  tarsus;  tarsus  but  little  longer  than  middle  toe.     Nydicorax. 
9.  Culmen  much  shorter  than  tarsus;  tarsus  much  longer  than  middle  toe.     Nyctanassa. 

Genus  Botaurus  (Steph.) 

77.  Botaurus  lentiginosus  (Montag.}.    BITTERN. 

Ads. — A  glossy  black  streak  on  each  side  of  upper  neck:  top  of  head  and  back  of  neck  bluish 
slate,  more  or  less  washed  with  buffy;  back  brown,  bordered  and  irregularly  mottled  with 
buffy  and  buffy  ochraceous,  wing-coverts  similarly  marked,  but  ground  color  grayer;  under- 
parts  creamy  buff,  the  feathers  all  widely  streaked  with  buffy  brown,  which  is  finely  speckled 


96 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


with  buffy  and  narrowly  margined  by  brownish  gray.     Im. — Similar,  but  buffy  everywhere 
deeper  and  more  ochraceous.     L.,  28.00;  W.,   10.50;  Tar.,  3.50;  B.,  3.00.     (Chap.,  Birds  o 
E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America  north  to  central  Canada;  winters  from  Virginia  southward  to  Guate- 
mala and  Porto  Rico. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Winter  visitor  on  coast,  transient  in  central  portion,  summer 
visitor  in  mountain  region.  Not  yet  detected  breeding  in  the  State. 

Owing  to  the  retiring  habits  of  this  remarkable  bird,  it  is  not  often  seen  by  the 
casual  observer  even  in  regions  where  it  is  comparatively  abundant.  Although 
closely  related  to  the  herons,  it  is  more  like  a  rail  in  its  manner  of  skulking  through 
the  tall  grass  of  the  marshes  it  frequents.  The  solemn,  unearthly,  sucking  cry  of 
this  bird,  heard  from  far  out  upon  a  lonely  marsh  in  the  late  evening,  is  a  note  to 
haunt  the  memory. 


FIG.  61.     BITTERN. 

We  do  not  know  that  the  Bittern  breeds  in  North  Carolina,  although  it  is  ex- 
tremely likely  that  it  does.  Pearson  heard  its  cries  in  June,  1902,  issuing  from 
the  grassy  shallows  of  Lake  Ellis,  and  a  short  search  on  this  occasion  resulted  in 
flushing  a  bird.  H.  H.  and  C.  S.  Brimley  have  frequently  taken  these  birds  at 
Raleigh  between  the  end  of  March  and  May  30,  and  on  one  occasion  in  December. 
Coues  saw  one  at  Fort  Macon  in  May,  1871.  Atkinson  recorded  it  from  Chapel 
Hill.  Cairns  found  it  in  Buncombe  County  from  April  to  October.  Bishop  noted 
the  bird  at  Pea  Island,  February  11,  1901,  and  again  on  May  5,  1902. 

Genus  Ixobrychus  (Billb.) 
78.  Ixobrychus  exilis  (Gmel.}.    LEAST  BITTERN. 

Description. — Male  chiefly  glossy  black  above,  brownish  yellow  below  neck,  shoulders  and 
wings  with  chestnut;  a  buffy  area  on  wing-coverts;  female  with  brown  instead  of  black;  under 
tail-coverts  white  in  both  sexes.  L.,  12.75-14.50;  W.,  4.42-4.85;  T.,  1.50-1.75. 

Range. — Breeds  from  southern  Canada  to  Brazil,  winters  from  the  Gulf  States  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer  wherever  there  are  marshes. 


N.  C.  GEOLOGICAL  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY. 


PLATE  B. 


„ 


1.  Collecting  a  nest,    with   nearly   grown  young,   of   Great   Blue   Heron.      Great   Lake, 

Craven  County. 

(Photo  by  H.   H.  Brimley.) 


2.  Young  Black  Skimmer  crouching  and  hiding  in  bunch  of  seaweed.      Note  the  protective  colora- 
tion.    Royal  Shoal,  Pamlico  Sound. 

(Photo  by  H.  H.  Brimley.) 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  97 


Among  the  interesting  forms  of  wild  life  inhabiting  the  fresh-water  marshes,  no 
bird  is  more  weirdly  fascinating  than  the  Least  Bittern.  It  haunts  the  rushes  and 
cattails,  and  there  constructs  a  frail  nest  but  a  few  feet  above  the  water.  The  young 
soon  acquire  great  dexterity  in  climbing  among  the  stems  of  the  water-plants  and 
few  sights  are  more  surprising  than  that  of  a  young  Least  Bittern,  erect  and  motion- 
less, clinging  to  the  stalk  of  a  bullrush,  with  its  long  neck  extended  and  bill  pointing 
skyward.  This  is  the  attitude  usually  assumed  upon  the  approach  of  an  intruder, 
and  so  slender  is  its  figure,  and  so  well  do  the  markings  of  the  throat  and  breast 
blend  with  its  environment,  that  one  may  readily  pass  without  observing  it. 
Upon  taking  wing,  its  flight  is  at  first  laborious  and  ungainly  in  the  extreme.  If, 
however,  necessity  requires  that  its  journey  be  prolonged,  the  long  legs  are  elevated 
to  a  plane  with  its  body  and  the  wing-strokes  become  rapid  and  graceful. 


FIG.  62.     LEAST  BITTEKN. 

These  birds  have  been  seen  in  limited  numbers  in  various  districts.  H.  H.  and 
C.  S.  Brimley  have  found  them  frequently  at  Raleigh  from  May  to  September, 
where  they  breed  rather  commonly  in  May  and  June.  They  are  summer  residents 
in  the  marshes  of  Lake  Ellis.  Cairns  took  only  two  specimens  in  Buncombe  County 
during  many  years  of  observation,  which  indicates  that  it  is  a  rare  bird  in  our 
mountains.  This  may,  perhaps,  be  accounted  for  by  the  infrequency  with  which 
marshes  are  found  in  that  territory. 

Cory's  Least  Bittern,  Ixobrychus  neoxenus  (Cory),  which  has  the  under  tail-coverts  always 
black,  is  known  to  breed  near  Toronto  in  Canada,  and  in  southern  Florida,  and  hence  is  liable 
to  be  found  during  the  migrations  at  any  intermediate  point.  It  is  much  darker  than  the 
Least  Bittern,  but  quite  variable. 

Genus  Ardea  (Linn.) 
79.  Ardea  herodias  herodias  (Linn.).    GREAT  BLUE  HERON. 

Ads.  in  breeding  plumage. — -Center  of  crown  and  throat  white,  sides  of  crown  black,  this 
color  meeting  on  back  of  head,  where  the  feathers  are  lengthened  to  form  an  occipital  crest; 
neck  pale  grayish  brown,  a  narrow  black,  white,  and  ochraceous  line  down  the  middle  of  the 
foreneck;  feathers  of  lower  foreneck  narrow  and  much  lengthened,  whitish  with  sometimes 
black  streaks;  back,  wing-coverts,  and  tail  slaty  gray,  the  scapulars  paler,  narrow  and  much 
lengthened;  bend  of  wing  chestnut-rufous;  a  patch  of  black  and  white  feathers  on  side  of  breast; 
breast  and  belly  streaked  with  black  and  white  and  sometimes  pale  rufous;  feathers  on  legs 
dull  rufous,  legs  and  feet  black;  upper  mandible  olive-yellow,  the  culmen  blackish;  lower  man- 
dible yellow;  lores  blue.  1m. — Similar,  but  entire  crown  black,  throat  white,  neck  brownish 
gray  washed  with  buffy  ochraceous;  no  black  at  sides  of  the  breast  or  plumes  on  the  lower 
neck;  underparts  streaked  with  black,  slaty,  white  and  ochraceous;  bend  of  wings  and  feathers 
on  legs  paler;  back  slaty  grayish  brown  without  lengthened  plumes.  "L.,  42.00-50.00;  W., 
17.90-19.85;  B.,  4.30-6.25;  Tar.,  6.00-8.00"  (Ridgw.).  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 


98 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Range. — From  Alberta  and  Ontario  to  the  West  Indies  and  Venezuela  (except  Florida  in 
breeding  season). 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Present  in  the  whole  State  in  summer,  but  absent  in  winter  in 
the  mountain  regions  and  to  a  great  extent  in  the  central  portion  of  the  State. 

The  Great  Blue  Heron,  also  known  as  the  "Blue  Crane,"  "Old  Cranky,"  and 
"Long  Tom,"  is  a  well-known  bird  throughout  our  State,  arriving  in  the  mountains 
in  late  March,  and  there  are  well-marked  signs  of  migration  at  Raleigh  at  the  same 
period,  although  the  bird  occurs  there  sparingly  at  all  seasons. 


FIG.  63.     GREAT  BLUE  HERON. 

With  head  held  nearly  five  feet  above  the  muddy  shore  on  which  the  bird  may 
be  standing,  its  slender  neck  and  dagger-like  bill  darting  down  at  intervals  to  spear 
some  luckless  frog  or  fish,  the  Great  Blue  Heron  presents  a  picture  not  easily  for- 
gotten. From  the  salt  marshes  of  Dare  County  to  the  winding  course  of  the  Ten- 
nessee River  its  form  is  a  familiar  one,  and  many  and  wonderful  are  the  local  beliefs 
regarding  its  anatomy.  One  tradition  holds  that  it  possesses  one  straight  intestine, 
while  another  gives  it  credit  of  bearing  a  phosphorescent  bunch  of  feathers  on  its 
breast,  by  the  light  of  which  fish  at  night  are  lured  to  their  destruction.  Its  nest 
is  a  heavy  mass  of  sticks  and  twigs,  generally  placed  in  tall  trees  in  swamps  or 
along  the  margin  of  a  lake. 

Twenty  pairs  or  more  breed  every  year  about  the  shores  of  Great  Lake  in  Craven 
County.  Pearson  has  also  found  their  nests  in  Craven,  Carteret,  Onslow,  and 
Brunswick  counties.  A  colony  of  about  one  hundred  pairs  have  for  many  years 
inhabited  the  tall  cypress  trees  of  the  "Crane  Neck"  heronry  on  Orton  Planta- 
tion, Brunswick  County.  When  one  is  passing  beneath  these  trees  the  young  fre- 
quently disgorge  masses  of  semi-digested  fish,  which  rain  down  upon  the  intruders 
with  fearful  accuracy.  The  eggs  are  usually  deposited  in  April  and  May. 


»  ^ 

»  2  o 

IS  P  O 

rr,  ~ 


P 
1? 

5-13 


tq  - 


Si 

o   a 
P' 


<B    P 
(t>    CC 

3  O. 


LJ 
™  O 


B 

B  B  ^ 

• 


•wa 


" 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


99 


Genus  Herodias  (Boie) 
80.  Herodias  egretta  (Gmel.).    EGRET. 

Description. — Pure  white;  adult  in  breeding  season  with  very  long  dorsal  plumes,  reaching 
far  beyond  end  of  tail.  L.,  37.00-41.00;  W.,  14.00-17.00;  T.,  about  6.00. 

Range. — Breeds  locally  from  North  Carolina  southward;  winters  from  Florida  south.  In 
summer  wanders  as  far  north  as  Massachusetts.  Breeds  in  southeastern  Oregon. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  summer,  only  occasional  elsewhere. 

No  bird  in  America  has  so  melancholy  a  history  as  the  Egret.  Those  of  us  living 
today  are  witnessing  the  passing  of  the  race,  and  we  doubt  seriously  if  a  single 
individual  will  be  alive  in  the  United  States  twenty-five  years  hence,  unless  the 


FIG.  64.     EGRET. 

extraordinary  precautions  now  being  taken  for  their  protection  by  the  National 
Association  of  Audubon  Societies  should  prove  to  be  successful.  Formerly  it  was 
an  abundant  inhabitant  of  the  lakes  and  marshes  of  the  Southern  States;  today  it 
is  restricted  to  a  small  number  of  localities  in  a  few  States.  Its  destruction  has 
been  due  to  the  human  craving  for  the  beautiful,  long  airy  plumes  which  grow  from 
the  back  directly  between  the  wings.  The  Audubon  Societies  have  long  fought  to 
save  it.  By  their  efforts,  laws  have  been  enacted  in  all  the  States  for  its  protection, 
and  wardens  have  been  employed  to  guard  the  few  remaining  breeding  places  of 
the  birds.  But  the  demand  for  the  "aigrette"  by  the  millinery  trade  has  never 
ceased,  and  the  lust  for  gold  has  carried  the  plume-hunters  into  the  swamps,  over 


100  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


the  bodies  of  two  slaughtered  Audubon  wardens,  and  into  the  last  colonies  of  the 
doomed  birds.  The  butchery  of  the  Egrets  has  been  particularly  harrowing  because 
of  the  fact  that  the  birds  have  the  plumes  only  during  the  nesting  period,  and  to 
kill  an  Egret  for  its  feathers  means  the  starvation  of  its  brood. 

We  know  of  only  one  colony  of  Egrets  now  in  North  Carolina;  this  is  located  in 
Brunswick  County  and  is  carefully  protected  by  Mr.  James  Sprunt,  on  whose  prop- 
erty it  is  situated.  We  have  visited  the  birds  during  the  nesting  period  seven  differ- 
ent times  within  the  past  twelve  years,  and  have  found  them  just  about  holding 
their  own  in  numbers.  The  colony  contained  probably  twenty  pairs  when  discov- 
ered by  Pearson  in  the  summer  of  1898.  Their  nests  were  high  up  in  tall  cypress 
trees.  The  lowest  one  discovered  was  at  least  forty  feet  and  others  were  fully  eighty 
feet  above  the  water.  Pearson  also  saw  two  nests  with  the  birds  attending  them  in 
a  small  colony  on  Jones's  Mill  Pond  in  Carteret  County,  June,  1899.  Later  in 
the  season  the  place  was  raided  by  plume-hunters  and  the  birds  were  killed.  Indi- 
viduals have  occasionally  been  seen  elsewhere  in  the  State  during  the  past  twenty 
years.  From  six  to  twelve  birds  are  still  seen  each  summer  on  Lake  Ellis.  One  was 
killed  at  Raleigh,  June  15,  1884,  and  another  shot  at  Chapel  Hill  in  1894.  Two 
were  also  recorded  by  Bishop  at  Pea  Island,  July  30  and  August  19,  1904.  Francis 
Harper  found  a  few  breeding  birds  in  a  colony  near  Beaufort  in  July,  1913. 

Genus  Egretta  (T.  Forst.) 
81.  Egretta  candidissima  candidissima  (Gmel.).    SNOWY  EGRET. 

Ads.  in  breeding  plumage. — Entire  plumage  pure  white;  about  fifty  recurved  "aigrette" 
plumes  grow  from  the  interscapular  region  and  reach  to  or  just  beyond  the  end  of  the  tail; 
legs  black,  feet  yellow,  bill  black,  yellow  at  the  base;  lores  orange-yellow.  Ads.  after  the  breeding 
season  and  Im. — Without  the  interscapular  plumes.  L.,  24.00;  W.,  9.75;  Tar.,  3.80;  B.,  3.20. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  from  southern  North  Carolina  southward;  winters  from  Florida  southward 
to  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  summer;  now  very  rare. 

The  fate  of  the  small  Snowy  Egret  is  scarcely  less  sad  than  that  of  the  large 
Egret.  In  fact,  today  it  is  decidedly  the  rarer  bird.  This  is  the  heron  from  which 
comes  the  short  curved  plumes  known  to  the  millinery  trade  as  "  cross  aigrettes." 
Like  other  herons,  these  birds  assemble  in  colonies  upon  the  approach  of  the  breed- 
ing season,  and  to  find  one  nesting  place  means  finding  all  the  birds  of  the  species 
which  are  breeding  in  a  surrounding  area  of  many  miles.  The  one  colony  of  herons 
of  the  first  magnitude  still  remaining  in  the  State  is  at  Crane  Neck  on  the  Orton 
Plantation  in  Brunswick  County.  It  is  situated  in  a  growth  of  cypress  trees 
in  a  little  bay  in  the  old  rice-pond.  Here  it  is  believed  the  Snowy  Egret  is  making 
its  last  stand  in  North  Carolina.  Ten  or  twelve  pairs  were  found  there  by  H.  H. 
Brimley  and  Pearson  in  June,  1908.  The  nests  were  scattered  among  those  of  other 
small  herons,  and  the  resemblance  both  of  the  nests  and  eggs  was  such  that  we 
found  it  impossible  to  identify  them  positively  except  in  the  few  instances  when  the 
birds  were  actually  seen  occupying  their  nests. 

Records  of  the  Snowy  Herons  appearing  in  other  parts  of  the  State  are  few,  and 
several  of  these  are  dubious.  Coues  regarded  the  bird  as  a  summer  resident  at 


N.  C.  GEOLOGICAL,  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY. 


PLATE   D. 


1.   Two  young  American  Egrets  in  the  tops  of  the  tall  cypresses  of  Crane  Neck. 

(Photo  bij  T.   W.  Adickes.) 


2    In  the  tall  trees  of  Crane  Neck  Rookery.     Nest  and  two  young  of  American  Egret. 

(Photo  by  T.   W.  Adickes.) 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


101 


Fort  Macon  in  1870,  but  found  none  breeding.  Atkinson  mentions  in  his  list  of 
North  Carolina  birds  a  specimen  in  the  collection  of  James  Busbee,  from  Wilming- 
ton. Cairns  took  one  in  Buncombe  County,  but  the  date  appears  not  to  have  been 
recorded.  Bishop  secured  a  pair  at  Pea  Island,  April  22,  1905. 


FIG.  65.     SNOWY  EGRET. 


Genus  Hydranassa  (Baird) 
82.  Hydranassa  tricolor  ruficollis  (Gosse).    LOUISIANA  HERON. 

Description:  Ads. — -Upperparts  dark  bluish  slate-color;  back  of  head  and  upper  neck  with 
elongated  chestnut-rufous  and  white  feathers;  back  with  pale  brownish  gray  "aigrette"  plumes 
reaching  to  tail;  lower  back,  rump,  and  belly  white;  neck  bluish  slate-color;  throat  white,  an 
indistinct  rufous  line  down  the  middle  of  foreneck;  legs  blackish;  base  of  bill  and  lores  bluish. 
Im. — Throat,  and  an  indistinct  line  down  the  foreneck  white;  rest  of  head  and  neck  brownish 
rufous;  upper  back  and  wings  bluish  slate-color,  more  or  less  washed  with  brownish  rufous; 
no  plumes;  lower  back,  rump,  and  belly  white;  breast  with  more  or  less  slaty  streaks;  legs 
yellow  behind,  blackish  before;  lower  mandible  and  lores  orange;  upper  mandible  black.  L., 
26.00;  W.,  10.00;  Tar.,  3.70;  B.,  3.90.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.} 

Range. — -Breeds  from  North  Carolina  to  Central  America;  winters  from  South  Carolina 
southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  summer. 


102 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Beautiful  and  graceful  in  the  extreme,  it  is  little  wonder  that  many  of  the  earlier 
ornithologists  called  this  bird  "  Lady  of  the  Waters."  Although  inhabiting  fresh  as 
well  as  salt-water  bodies,  the  Louisiana  Heron  in  North  Carolina  is  a  bird  of  the 
coast  region,  and  rarely  if  ever  wanders  far  inland.  In  the  territory  where  it  is 
found  it  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  of  the  waders,  and  it  is  therefore  singular  that  its 
presence  has  not  been  noted  in  any  of  the  State  lists  of  birds  heretofore  published. 
Apparently  the  first  specimen  recorded  was  on  April  20,  1898,  when  Pearson,  while 
standing  at  the  very  point  of  the  beach  at  Cape  Hatteras,  watched  one  fly  slowly 
in  from  the  sea.  The  next  month  he  found  four  heronries  in  which  the  birds  were 
breeding.  These  were  situated  as  follows:  one  at  Jones's  Pond,  Carteret  County; 
one  in  a  small  pond  near  Shallotte  in  Brunswick  County;  and  two,  Crane  Neck  and 
Tom  Branch,  on  Orton  Pond.  The  largest  colony  today  is  at  Crane  Neck,  where 


FIG.  66.     LOUISIANA  HERON. 

probably  eight  hundred  or  a  thousand  pairs  assemble  in  summer. ;  The  colony  at 
Tom  Branch  was  continuously  raided  by  eggers  in  the  summer  of  1899  and  the 
birds  deserted  the  region,  probably  joining  their  neighbors  at  Crane  Neck  a  few 
miles  distant.  Pearson  found  them  common  on  the  marshes  of  North  River  a  few 
miles  from  Beaufort  in  July,  1898.  The  most  northern  record  of  its  appearance 
in  North  Carolina  is  that  noted  by  Bishop  at  Pea  Island.  He  found  several  there 
between  August  5  and  25,  1904. 

Genus  Florida  (Baird) 
83.  Florida  cserulea  cserulea  (Linn.}.    LITTLE  BLUE  HERON. 

Ads. — Head  and  neck  maroon-chestnut;  rest  of  plumage  dark  bluish  slate-color;  inter- 
scapulars  and  lower  neck-feathers  lengthened  and  narrowly  pointed;  lores  blue;  legs  and  feet 
black.  Im. — White,  plumage  sometimes  more  or  less  washed  with  slaty;  tips  of  the  primaries-' 
always  bluish  slate-color;  legs,  feet  and  lores  greenish  yellow.  L.,  22.00;  W.,  10.25;  Tar.,  3.70; 
B.,  3.00. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  103 


Remarks. — Between  the  young  and  adult  there  is  every  stage  of  intergradation  of  color, 
some  specimens  being  irregularly  marked  with  blue  and  white  in  about  equal  proportions. 
Young  birds  are  sometimes  mistaken  for  Snowy  Herons,  but  can  always  be  distinguished  by 
the  greenish  yellow  legs  and  slaty  tips  of  the  primaries.  They  breed  in  the  white  plumage. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  from  North  Carolina  southward;  winters  from  South  Carolina  southward. 
Formerly  bred  as  far  north  as  Indiana  and  New  Jersey. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Breeds  in  the  coastal  region,  and  after  the  breeding  season  the 
young  in  the  white  plumage  scatter  all  over  the  State  during  July  and  August. 

One  of  the  most  abundant  herons  in  the  State  is  the  Little  Blue.  When  hatched 
it  is  white,  and  not  until  the  summer  of  the  second  year  does  it  acquire  its  blue 
plumage.  In  central  and  western  North  Carolina  it  is  most  usually  found  in  the 
white  phase.  This  is  the  common  "Little  White  Crane"  seen  in  July  and  August 
inhabiting  our  streams  and  mill-ponds.  While  still  wearing  the  white  plumage  of 
youth,  it  mates  and  rears  young,  being  one  of  the  comparatively  few  birds  with 
this  peculiarity. 


FIG.  67.     LITTLE  BLUE  HERON. 

On  April  30,  1898,  Pearson  found  a  colony  nesting  on  Lake  Head  Island,  in  Mat- 
tamuskeet  Lake,  Hyde  County.  The  nests  were  built  in  cypress  and  willow  trees, 
at  distances  varying  from  fifteen  to  forty  feet  from  the  ground.  One  unusual  fact 
noted  was  that  the  trees  were  not  standing  in  water,  but  on  virtually  dry  ground. 
Many  eggshells  with  holes  torn  in  one  side  were  found  scattered  about  the  ground, 
and  the  creators  of  this  mischief  were  soon  discovered  in  the  form  of  a  pair  of  Fish 
Crows,  which  were  seen  making  off  with  eggs  in  their  bills.  These  black  disturbers 
are  always  found  about  heron  colonies. 

At  this  date  a  large  part  of  the  hundred  or  more  nests  seen  appeared  to  con- 
tain eggs.  Five  nests  were  examined,  all  of  which  held  four  eggs.  Four  other  nests 
had  five  eggs  each.  No  young  birds  were  found;  in  fact,  none  of  the  eggs  observed 
seemed  to  be  in  an  advanced  stage  of  incubation.  The  heron  life  here  appeared  to 
be  typical  of  that  found  to  exist  in  the  other  breeding  colonies  of  these  birds.  The 
same  summer  Pearson  found  the  Little  Blues  associated  numerously  with  the  Louisi- 
ana Herons  in  the  colonies  before  mentioned  as  being  in  Carteret  and  Brunswick 
counties.  In  1909  H.  H.  Brimley  discovered  that  about  twenty  pairs  had  estab- 
lished themselves  in  the  trees  on  the  southern  shore  of  Great  Lake,  in  Craven 
County.  On  June  18  all  of  the  nests  contained  eggs,  but  two  days  later  every  egg 
had  disappeared.  Their  destruction  was  attributed  to  Fish  Crows. 


104  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Genus  Butorides  (Blyth) 
84.  Butorides  virescens  virescens  (Linn.}.    GREEN  HERON. 

Ads.-^ — Crown  and  a  short  line  below  eye  glossy  greenish  black;  throat  buffy  white,  this  color 
extending  down  foreneck  as  a  narrow  line  mixed  with  blackish,  widening  on  breast;  rest  of 
head  and  neck  rufous-chestnut  glossed  with  vinaceous;  back,  with  lengthened  inter-scapulars, 
green,  more  or  less  washed  with  bluish  gray;  wing-coverts  green,  margined  with  white  or  buffy; 
belly  ashy  gray,  more  or  less  washed  with  buffy.  1m. — Similar,  but  with  neck  and  underparts 
streaked  with  blackish;  back  without  lengthened  feathers  or  wash  of  blue-gray;  wing-coverts 
widely  margined  with  buffv  ochraceous.  L.,  17.00;  W.,  7.25;  Tar.,  1.90;  B.,  2.50.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  from  southern  Canada  to  the  West  Indies;  winters  from 
the  West  Indies  southwards  and  rarely  in  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Whole  State  in  summer,  arriving  in  late  March  or  early  April 
and  staying  till  early  October. 

The  Green  Heron,  also  known  as  "Scow,"  "Shypoke,"  "Scout,"  " Indian  Hen/' 
and  "Fly-up-the  Creek/'  is  the  smallest  of  the  true  herons,  and  is  familiar  to  most 
farm-boys  of  the  State.  Mill-ponds  and  the  banks  of  rivers  and  creeks  are  its 


FIG.  68.     GREEN  HERON. 

favorite  haunts.  It  wades  cautiously  through  the  shallow  water  looking  for  frogs, 
fish,  salamanders,  or  other  small  aquatic  life  upon  which  it  preys.  When  alarmed, 
the  startled  " squawks"  it  emits  recall  to  the  mind  of  many  a  man  his  early  swim- 
ming or  fishing  experiences.  The  Green  Heron's  nest  is  characteristic  of  those 
of  the  family,  being  a  slight  affair  built  loosely  of  twigs.  Frequently  it  is  placed  in 
a  bush  or  tree  growing  in  the  water,  but  more  often,  perhaps,  the  tree  selected  is 
on  land;  sometimes  it  nests  in  oak,  apple,  or  other  trees,  a  mile  or  more  from  the 
nearest  feeding  place. 

On  April  15,  1898,  Pearson  found  three  of  its  nests  near  Lake  Landing  in  Hyde 
County,  which  were  placed  on  the  horizontal  limbs  of  cedar  trees  about  fifteen  feet 
from  the  ground.  They  were  made  entirely  of  cedar  twigs  and  were  so  frail  that 
the  five  blue  eggs  in  one  could  be  counted  through  the  nest  from  below.  Green 
Herons  appear  to  be  common  summer  residents  throughout  the  State. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


105 


Genus  Nycticorax  (T.  Forst.) 
85.  Nycticorax  nycticorax  nsevius  (Bodd.).    BLACK-CROWNED  NIGHT  HERON. 

Description:  Ads. — Forehead,  lores,  neck  and  underparts  white  or  whitish;  crown,  upper 
back  and  scapulars  glossy,  greenish  black;  lower  back,  wings  and  tail  ashy  gray;  legs  and  feet 
yellow;  lores  greenish;  two  or  three  white  rounded  occipital  plumes  about  8.00  in  length.  Im. — 
Upperparts  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  streaked  or  with  wedge-shaped  spots  of  white  or  buffy; 
outer  web  of  primaries  pale  rufous;  underparts  white,  streaked  with  blackish.  L.,  24.00;  W., 
12.00;  Tar.,  3.20;  B.,  3.00.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  from  Canada  to  Patagonia;  winters  from  Gulf  States  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  only  in  summer. 


FIG.  69.     BLACK-CROWNED  NIGHT  HERON. 

At  the  time  of  the  publication  of  Smithwick's  list  of  North  Carolina  birds,  in 
1897,  this  bird  was  known  in  the  State  only  by  a  few  specimens  taken  in  Carteret 
and  Buncombe  counties.  We  now  know  it  to  be  a  regular  summer  bird  in  the  coast 
country,  nesting  commonly  in  rookeries  with  other  herons.  A  few  pairs  each  sum- 
mer associate  with  the  Cormorants  on  Great  Lake  and  make  their  nests  in  the 
cypress  trees  used  by  their  fierce  black  neighbors.  On  April  30,  1898,  Pearson 
found  a  nest  with  two  freshly  laid  eggs  and  one  with  four  slightly  incubated  eggs  in 
the  heron  colony  on  Lake  Head  Island,  Mattamuskeet  Lake.  Apparently  this  was 
the  first  record  of  the  birds  breeding  in  the  State.  Night  Herons'  nests  are  com- 
monly more  bulky  structures  than  those  usually  constructed  by  other  members  of 


106  BIKDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


this  family.  So  far  as  known,  it  does  not  breed  in  central  or  western  Carolina,  but 
after  the  nesting  season  wanders  to  all  parts  of  the  State.  It  is  largely  a  nocturnal 
species,  and  prefers  to  pass  the  daytime  dozing  among  the  foliage  of  thickly  leaved 
trees.  In  Carteret  County  it  is  eaten  by  some  of  the  inhabitants  along  Core  Sound, 
but  its  flesh  can  hardly  be  considered  a  choice  food.  There  has  been  for  several 
years  a  large  colony  on  Harker's  Island  a  few  miles  from  Beaufort,  and  Pearson  has 
found  colonies  in  Onslow  and  Brunswick  counties. 

Genus  Nyctanassa  (Stejn.) 
86.  Nyctanassa  violacea  (Linn.).    YELLOW-CROWNED  NIGHT  HERON. 

Description. — Grayish  plumbeous,  darker  on  back,  and  streaked  with  black;  head  mostly 
black;  the  crown  and  chest  tawny  white,  a  white  streak  behind  eye;  young  grayish  brown, 
streaked  and  spotted,  known  by  the  structural  characters.  L.,  22.00  to  28.00;  W.,  10.50  to 
12.50. 

Range. — In  summer  from  North  Carolina  to  Brazil;  winters  from  Florida  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Coastal  region  in  summer,  and  occasional  inland;  rare. 

Rare  and  retiring  in  its  habits,  the  Yellow-crowned  Night  Heron  has  been  seldom 
seen  by  ornithologists  in  North  Carolina.  Atkinson  mentions  one  taken  at  Beaufort 
in  1887.  An  adult  was  exhibited  at  the  Fish  and  Oyster  Fair  in  New  Bern  in  1892, 
and  an  immature  mounted  specimen  was  shown  there  in  1893.  C.  S.  Brimley  shot 
an  immature  female  at  Raleigh,  June  25,  1894,  and  an  immature  male  July  14, 
1894.  On  June  13,  1894,  Pearson  secured  an  immature  bird  near  Guilford  College 
in  Guilford  County,  and  the  mounted  specimen  is  in  the  museum  at  that  institution. 
One  was  killed  by  Owen  Primrose  in  Johnston  County,  May  13,  1898,  and  sent  to 
the  State  Museum.  It  was  an  adult.  In  May,  1909,  H.  H.  Brimley  and  Pearson 
observed  at  close  range  an  adult  on  Dutchman's  Creek,  which  runs  through  a  salt- 
marsh  a  few  miles  from  Southport  in  Brunswick  County.  Three  adults  were  seen 
by  C.  S.  Brimley  in  marshes  bordering  on  Walnut  Creek  near  Raleigh,  April  14, 
1911.  We  do  not  know  that  the  birds  breed  in  the  State,  but  it  is  highly  probable 
that  they  do.  Pearson  has  found  them  nesting  on  several  occasions  in  Florida,  and 
says  that  in  every  instance  the  colonies  contained  about  ten  or  fifteen  pairs,  and 
no  other  herons  were  found  associated  with  them. 

VII.  ORDER  PALUDICOLfll.     THE  MARSH-BIRDS. 

This  order  includes  cranes,  rails,  and  allied  forms.  They  are  birds  of  moderate 
or  large  size,  and  usually  dwell  in  marshes  or  wet  meadows. 

The  Sandhill  Crane,  Grus  mexicana  (Mull.)  belonging  to  the  family  Gruidce,  is 
a  large  bird  with  long  legs  and  neck,  resembling  a  heron  to  that  extent.  In  the  adult 
the  top  of  the  head  is  covered  with  rough,  dull-reddish  skin,  thinly  sprinkled  with 
short  "hairs."  We  have  no  positive  record  of  the  appearance  of  the  bird  in  the 
State.  It  is  known  to  breed  in  Florida,  Georgia,  and  westward  and  northward 
through  the  Mississippi  Valley  to  Manitoba.  In  various  trips  through  Brunswick 
County,  Pearson  has  been  told  repeatedly  of  a  large  bird  which  frequents  the  open 
pond-dotted  pine-woods,  and  known  as  the  "Savannah  Crane."  In  company  with 


Plate  7 


YELLOW-CROWNED    NIGHT    HERON.     Nyctanassa  violacea   (Linn.)     Adult  above,  immature  below. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  107 


H.  H.  Brimley,  he  has  made  expeditions  into  this  thinly  settled  section  of  the  State 
to  verify,  if  possible,  the  reports  of  the  occurrence  of  this  strange  bird.  These  trips 
have  been  without  result  other  than  to  convince  both  men  that  the  Sandhill  Crane 
is  a  regular,  although  not  common,  summer  resident  in  this  region.  Wayne  says 
in  The  Birds  of  South  Carolina,  page  34:  "The  specimens  which  were  in  the 
Charleston  Museum  were  taken  on  the  Waccamaw  River."  The  Waccamaw  River 
flows  through  Brunswick  County,  North  Carolina,  and  empties  into  the  Little  Pee 
Dee  River,  not  more  than  sixty  miles  from  the  boundary  between  the  two  States. 

The  Limpkin  or  Crying-bird,  Aramus  vociferus  (Lath.),  belonging  to  the  family  Aramidce, 
somewhat  resembles  a  large  rail.  The  adult  is  "glossy  olive-brown,  the  feathers  of  the  head 
and  neck  narrowly,  those  of  the  body  broadly  striped  with  white;  wings  and  tail  more  bronzy." 
Length  about  28  inches.  The  usual  range  of  this  bird  is  from  Florida  southward  through  the 
West  Indies  and  Central  America.  Wayne  records  in  The  Birds  of  South  Carolina  the  capture 
of  three  specimens  in  that  State.  It  is  just  possible  that  it  may  come  occasionally  to  North 
Carolina.  Pearson  and  H.  H.  Brimley  had  a  bird  described  to  them  by  a  man  who  killed  it 
in  Brunswick  County  in  May,  1908,  which  was  probably  of  this  species. 

17.    FAMILY  RALLID/E.      RAILS,  GALLINULES,  AND  COOTS 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Forehead  covered  by  a  shield-like  extension  of  the  culmen.     See  2. 

1.  No  shield-like  extension  of  culmen  over  forehead.     Rails.     See  4. 

2.  Front  toes  provided  on  their  sides  with  broad,  lobed  membranes.     Fulica.     (Coots.) 

2.  Front  toes  without  membranous  flaps  on  sides.     Gallinules.     See  3. 

3.  Nostrils  small,  oval.     Middle  toe  without  claw  shorter  than  tarsus.     lonornis. 

3.  Nostrils  elongate,  slit-like.     Middle  toe  without  claw  longer  than  tarsus.     Gallinula. 

4.  Bill  slender,  as  long  as  or  longer  than  the  tarsus.     Rallus. 

4.  Bill  stout,  not  more  than  two-thirds  as  long  as  the  tarsus,  usually  much  less.     See  5. 

5.  Secondaries  white.     Coturnicops. 

5.  Secondaries  not  white.     See  6. 

6.  Wing  more  than  4  inches.     Porzana. 
6.  Wing  less  than  3%  inches.     Creciscus. 

Genus  Rallus  (Linn.) 

This  genus  comprises  the  larger,  long-billed  rails,  of  which  four  species  and  sub- 
species occur  in  the  State. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES  AND  SUBSPECIES 

1.  Size  smaller,  wing  less  than  4^  inches.     Virginia  Rail. 

1.  Size  larger,  wing  more  than  5  inches.     See  2. 

2.  Upperparts  with  much  reddish  brown.     King  Rail. 

2.  Upperparts  more  or  less  grayish.     See  3. 

3.  Feathers  of  the  back  centrally  pale  brown,  their  edges  pale  ashy,  underparts  usually  less 

ashy.     Clapper  Rail. 

3.  Feathers  of  the  back  centrally  rich  seal  brown,  their  edges  bright  ashy,  underparts  usually 
more  ashy.     Wayne's  Clapper  Rail. 

87.  Rallus  elegans  (And.}.    KING  RAIL. 

Ads. — Upperparts  varying  from  olive-brown  to  black,  the  back  and  scapulars  widely  mar- 
gined with  olive-gray;  wings  and  tail  olive-brown;  wing-coverts  rufous',  throat  white;  neck  and 
breast  cinnamon-rufous;  belly  and  sides  fuscous,  sharply  barred  with  white.  Downy  young. — 
Glossy  black.  L.,  15.00;  W.,  6.50;  Tar.,  2.20;  B.,  2.40.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  New  York  to  Florida;  wintering  mainly 
south  of  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Fresh-water  marshes  in  summer;  occurs  to  some  extent  in  winter 
from  Raleigh  eastward. 


108  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


This  is  the  common  rail  of  fresh-water  marshes,  and  it  appears  to  dwell  wherever 
these  are  found.  Its  nest  is  constructed  among  the  rank  grasses  or  rushes  of  its 
haunts,  and  the  pile  of  dead  cattail  or  bulrush  leaves  which  it  usually  gathers  for 
this  purpose  is  sometimes  as  much  as  twelve  inches  in  height.  Freshets  are  par- 
ticularly destructive  to  these  nests,  and  large  numbers  of  eggs  are  thus  annually 
destroyed.  The  King  Rail  is  an  adept  at  hiding,  and,  when  disturbed,  its  com- 
pressed body,  propelled  by  long  stout  legs,  passes  with  great  rapidity  through  the 
thickest  growth  of  water-plants.  When  forced  to  take  wing,  its  flight  is  at  first 
slow  and  exceedingly  clumsy. 


FIG.  70.     KING  RAIL. 

C.  S.  Brimley  states  that  at  Raleigh,  where  it  is  a  common  bird,  it  usually  appears 
about  April  1  and  departs  about  September  1.  Single  ones,  however,  have  been 
taken  later  in  autumn  and  some  have  been  seen  even  in  winter.  King  Rails  breed 
in  May,  June,  and  July. 

88.  Rallus  crepitans  crepitans  (Gmel.}.    CLAPPER  RAIL. 

Ad. — Upperparts  very  pale  greenish  olive,  the  feathers  widely  margined  with  gray;  wings 
and  tail  grayish  brown;  wing-coverts  pale  cinnamon  much  washed  with  gray;  throat  white; 
neck  and  breast  pale,  between  ochraceous  and  cream-buff,  more  or  less  washed  with  grayish; 
belly  and  sides  gray  or  brownish  gray,  barred  with  white.  Downy  young. — -Glossy  black.  L., 
14.50;  W.,  5.00;  Tar.,  2.00;  B.,  2.50. 

Remarks. — The  Clapper  Rail  may  always  be  known  from  the  King  Rail  by  its  generally  gray- 
ish instead  of  brownish  or  blackish  upperparts,  and  its  much  paler  breast  and  flanks  and  paler 
wing-coverts.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Salt-marshes  of  Atlantic  coast,  breeding  from  North  Carolina  to  Connecticut. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Salt-marshes  of  the  coastal  region. 

Clapper  Rails  are  abundant  residents  in  the  salt-marshes  along  the  coast,  their 
loud  rattling  calls  constituting  the  most  characteristic  bird-notes  of  the  region. 
They  are  regarded  as  game-birds,  and  are  commonly  shot  in  the  autumn  from  boats 
punted  through  the  marshes  at  high  tide.  In  some  localities  they  are  particularly 
numerous  in  summer.  Such  a  place  Pearson  found  "Jack's  Grass"  to  be  on  May  13, 
1898.  We  quote  from  notes  made  at  the  time:  "This  is  a  low  island  of  perhaps 
twenty  acres,  situated  in  Pamlico  Sound,  very  near  New  Inlet.  A  channel  runs  on 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


109 


either  side.  It  has  no  trees,  but  is  covered  rather  uniformly  with  grass  eight  or 
ten  inches  high.  Small  clumps  of  rushes,  growing  rarely  over  three  feet  high,  are, 
however,  scattered  over  the  island.  The  earth  at  these  spots  is  usually  elevated 
about  a  foot  above  the  surrounding  marsh,  and  in  nearly  every  one  of  them  a  rail's 
nest  was  found.  These  were  composed  entirely  of  marsh-grass,  blades  and  stalks, 
and  were  built  from  six  to  eight  inches  above  the  wet  sod.  The  fragments  of  grass 
used  varied  from  four  to  six  inches  in  length,  shorter  pieces  being  employed  for 


FIG.   71.     CLAPPER  BAIL. 

the  top  layers.  The  nests  measured  about  eight  inches  across  the  top,  the  horizontal 
thickness  being  uniform  from  the  bottom.  Each  of  two  of  the  nests  examined  held 
eight  slightly  incubated  eggs,  and  one  with  ten  eggs  was  seen.  One  was  found  with 
two  freshly  deposited  eggs,  and  another  with  four  incubated  eggs.  Eggshells  from 
which  the  young  had  but  shortly  departed  were  found  in  one  instance.  Usually  the 
eggs  were  not  screened  from  view  by  any  arching  of  the  grass  or  rushes.  Along 
the  banks  of  the  tide-creeks  the  marsh-grass  was  often  two  feet  or  more  in  height. 
Here  were  the  many  covered  runways  of  the  birds,  some  of  them  several  yards  in 
length." 


110  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


This  visit  to  Jack's  Grass  was  in  the  days  before  the  discovery  of  the  variety 
known  as  Wayne's  Rail,  which  very  closely  resembles  the  Clapper  Rail,  and  as  no 
specimens  were  shot  and  preserved,  it  is  impossible  to  state  which  of  the  two  forms 
may  have  predominated.  Clapper  Rails  are  known  to  have  been  taken  at  Fort 
Macon  and  Pea  Island.  A  rail  shot  by  Pearson  on  Dutchman's  Creek  in  Bruns- 
wick County,  August  14,  1909,  and  laboriously  retrieved  by  H.  H.  Brimley,  proved 
to  be  a  typical  Clapper  Rail.  Three  specimens  in  the  American  Museum  of  Natu- 
ral History,  New  York  City,  were  taken  at  Hatteras  on  March  2,  3,  and  7,  1900. 

89.  Rallus  crepitans  waynei  (Brewst.).    WAYNE'S  CLAPPER  RAIL. 

Description. — -"Similar  to  R.  crepitans,  but  the  general  coloring  much  darker,  the  underparts 
with  more  ashy,  the  under  tail-coverts  with  fewer  markings"  (Brewst.,  Proc.  N.  E.  Zool. 
Club,  I,  1899,  p.  50). 

Range. — Salt-marshes  of  the  south  Atlantic  coast  from  North  Carolina  to  Florida. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Salt-marshes  of  the  coastal  region.  The  exact  distribution  of  the 
two  Clapper  Rails  in  the  State  is  not  yet  well  understood,  most  of  our  records  dating  from 
before  the  time  when  waynei  was  first  recognized. 

Bishop  reports  this  bird  to  be  a  common  summer  resident  on  Pea  Island,  breed- 
ing in  May,  its  habits  being  in  no  way  distinguishable  from  those  of  the  Clapper 
Rail.  He  also  mentions  a  female  taken  on  February  9  and  a  male  on  February  11, 
1901,  both  of  which  were  pronounced  typical  by  Brewster,  who  first  described  this 
subspecies.  (Auk,  1901,  p.  265.)  Four  specimens  in  the  American  Museum  of 
Natural  History,  New  York  City,  were  collected  at  Hatteras  on  November  7,  1899, 
and  on  March  3,  May  5,  and  July  9,  1900. 

90.  Rallus  virginianus  (Linn.).    VIRGINIA  RAIL. 

Ad. — Upperparts  fuscous  or  black,  the  feathers  bordered  by  pale  grayish  brown;  wings  and 
tail  dark  grayish  brown;  wing-coverts  rufous,  lores  whitish,  cheeks  gray,  throat  white;  rest  of 
the  underparts  cinnamon-rufous;  flanks  and  under  tail-coverts  barred  or  spotted  with  black 
and  white.  Downy  young. — Glossy  black.  L.,  9.50;  W.,  4.30;  Tar.,  1.30;  B.,  1.50. 


FIG.  72.     VIRGINIA  RAIL. 

Range. — North  America.  Breeds  from  British  Columbia,  southern  Saskatchewan,  southern 
Keewatin,  Ontario,  southern  Quebec,  and  New  Brunswick  south  to  southern  California,  Utah, 
Kansas,  Missouri,  Illinois,  New  Jersey,  and  eastern  North  Carolina,  and  in  Toluca  Valley, 
Mexico;  winters  from  Oregon,  Utah,  and  Colorado,  to  Lower  California  and  Guatemala;  also 
in  the  Lower  Mississippi  States,  and  from  North  Carolina  (casually  Massachusetts)  to  Florida; 
occurs  occasionally  north  to  northern  Quebec  and  Newfoundland.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Apparently  resident  in  at  least  portions  of  the  coastal  region; 
migrant  in  rest  of  State. 

The  Virginia  Rail,  although  smaller  than  the  King  Rail,  much  resembles  it  in 
general  appearance.  Its  range  as  a  breeding  bird  has  not  usually  been  supposed 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  111 


to  reach  North  Carolina.  This  fact  added  greatly  to  the  interest  of  the  discovery 
of  a  nest  with  four  fresh  eggs  on  Gull  Shoal  Island,  in  Pamlico  Sound,  Dare  County, 
by^Pearson,  on  May  20,  1898.  The  top  of  the  nest  was  just  twelve  inches  above 
the  mud  in  which  the  rushes  were  growing  that  supported  it.  It  measured  six 
inches  across  the  top.  The  eggs  were  retained  in  Pearson's  private  collection  until 
destroyed  by  mice  four  years  later.  Bishop  took  a  moulting  female  at  Pea  Island 
on  February  9,  1901.  (Auk,  1901,  p.  265.)  H.  H.  Brimley  saw  one  at  close  range 
on  Lake  Ellis,  May  16,  1906.  He  regards  the  species  as  a  rare  transient  at  Raleigh, 
where  he  has  taken  specimens  on  the  following  dates:  March  7,  1891;  April  11  and 
25,  3894;  April  12,  1898;  April  26  and  May  1  and  9,  1900;  May  3  and  6,  1889; 
September  8,  1896,  and  October  9,  1893.  Wayne,  in  Birds  of  South  Carolina,  says 
that  in  autumn  the  Virginia  Rails  frequent  fields  where  pea-vines  are  growing  and 
about  ready  to  be  harvested,  and  appear  not  to  be  dependent  on  water  when  in  such 
situations. 

Genus  Porzana  (Vieill.) 

91.  Porzana  Carolina  (Linn.}.    SORA. 

Description. — Olive  brown,  streaked,  breast  slate-gray,  back  streaked;  belly  barred.  Adult 
with  face  and  middle  line  of  throat  black.  L.,  7.87-9.25;  W.,  3.87-4.36;  T.,  1.75-2.12. 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  from  New  Jersey  northward;  winters  from  South  Caro- 
lina southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  during  the  migrations. 


Fia.  73.     SOEA. 

The  Soras'are  common  transients  in  North  Carolina.  During  the  early  autumn 
they  frequent  the  rice-fields  and  many  of  the  marshes  of  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State.  Being  choice  articles  of  diet,  they  are  in  great  demand,  especially  in  the 
Wilmington  market,  where  they  are  known  as  "coots."  Large  numbers  are  taken 
at  night  by  means  of  a  torch  and  stick,  in  the  grass  along  the  margins  of  ditches 
and  creeks.  Upon  the  approach  of  frost  they  depart  suddenly,  by  night,  for  the 
South.  This  abrupt  disappearance  from  regions  where  the  day  before  they  were 
common  is  a  source  of  mystification  to  many  people,  and  in  New  Hanover  County 
there  are  negroes  who  solemnly  assert  that  the  birds  turn  into  frogs  and  go  into  the 
mud  for  the  winter. 

The  records  made  by  C.  S.  Brimley  at  Raleigh,  during  a  period  of  ten  years, 
show  the  earliest  fall  record  of  the  Sora  there  to  have  been  August  21,  and  the 


112  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


latest  October  30.  In  the  spring  his  earliest  record  is  April  8,  and  the  latest  May 
13.  Cairns  in  1894  found  them  at  Weaverville,  Buncombe  County,  September  1 
to  6,  and  April  30  to  May  6.  Bishop  has  taken  them  at  Pea  Island,  Dare  County, 
May  13,  1901,  and  May  10,  1902.  H.  H.  Brimley  saw  one  on  Lake  Ellis  May  12, 
1906,  and  another  was  killed  by  him  on  May  13,  1911.  One  was  brought  to  Pear- 
son at  Greensboro,  August  19,  1909,  which  had  evidently  been  killed  the  night  before 
by  striking  a  telephone  wire. 

Genus  Coturnicops  (Bonap.) 
92.  Coturnicops  noveboracensis  (Gmel).    YELLOW  RAIL. 

Description:  Ads. — -Upperparts  black,  the  feathers  bordered  with  ochraceous-buff  and  with 
from  one  to  three  narrow  white  bars;  breast  ochraceous-buff;  middle  of  the  belly  white;  sides 
and  lower  belly  black  or  brownish,  barred  with  white.  L.,  7.00;  W.,  3.40;  Tar.,  .95;  B.,  .52. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  Maine  northward;  winters  in  the  Gulf 
States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Whole  State  during  the  migrations;  rare;  winters  in  the  east. 


FIG.  74.     YELLOW  RAIL. 

The  Yellow  Rail  is  without  doubt  a  rare  bird  in  this  State.  Coues  saw  one  in 
Carteret  County,  April  12,  1870;  H.  H.  Brimley  found  two  exhibited  in  the  flesh 
at  the  New  Bern  Fair  in  February,  1892;  and  Cairns  took  a  male  at  Weaverville, 
Buncombe  County,  October  19,  1894. 

One  was  sent  to  Pearson  by  M.  W.  Haynes  of  Tarboro,  who  stated  that  he  picked 
it  up  at  that  place  on  the  morning  of  September  23,  1908.  It  had  been  killed  during 
the  previous  night  by  flying  against  a  telephone  wire.  Bishop  secured  two  on  Pea 
Island,  Dare  County,  in  1908;  one,  an  adult  male,  was  killed  December  20,  the 
other,  also  an  adult  male,  was  taken  about  December  26.  A  living  specimen  was 
brought  to  Pearson  at  Greensboro  October  4,  1910,  by  a  colored  man,  who  said  he 
had  just  caught  it  in  a  barn  near  town. 

The  Pea  Island  and  New  Bern  records  would  seem  to  show  that  the  species  may 
winter  in  the  coastal  region,  while  the  others  indicate  it  to  be  only  a  migrant  in 
the  rest  of  the  State.  Any  conclusions  as  to  its  actual  rarity  or  abundance  can  only 
be  surmises,  as  the  bird  is  of  extremely  unobtrusive  and  skulking  habits.  It  is  an 
inhabitant  of  wet  meadows  and  is  said  to  be  exceedingly  difficult  to  flush. 

Genus  Creciscus  (Cab.) 

This  genus  contains  two  species  in  North  America.  One  is  found  on  the  Pacific 
coast  of  the  United  States,  the  other  in  the  East. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  113 


93.  Creciscus  jamaicensis  (Gmel.}.    BLACK  RAIL. 

Ads. — Head,  breast  and  upper  belly  slate-color;  lower  belly  and  wings  brownish  black,  barred 
or  spotted  with  white;  nape  dark  reddish  brown.  L.,  5.00;  W.,  2.80;  Tar.,  .80;  B.,  .60.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America  breeding  from  South  Carolina  to  Canada,  and  wintering 
through  the  Gulf  States  to  Jamaica  and  Guatemala. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Nearly  the  whole  State,  apparently  only  in  summer. 

The  Black  Rail,  the  smallest  member  of  the  rail  family  in  the  United  States,  is 
one  of  those  secretive  creatures  the  comparative  abundance  of  which  is  difficult  to 
determine.  It  probably  is  a  regular  summer  resident  in  the  State. 

Near  Raleigh,  along  the  course  of  Walnut  Creek,  are  numerous  patches  of 
meadow-land,  some  of  which  are  annually  cut  for  hay.  It  is  here  and  principally 
on  these  occasions  that  the  Black  Rails  have  been  brought  to  our  attention.  From 
1890  to  1902  eight  nests  with  eggs  were  secured  by  H.  H.  and  C.  S.  Brimley  from 
the  negro  mowers. 


FIG.  75.     BLACK  RAIL. 

Small  in  size,  inhabiting  the  thick  meadow-growth,  and  virtually  never  taking 
wing  when  disturbed,  it  is  as  hard  to  find  as  a  ground-loving  mouse. 

The  eight  sets  of  eggs  secured  at  Raleigh  were  taken  at  dates  varying  from  May 
27  to  July  12.  Fresh  eggs  were  found  as  late  as  June  28  and  eggs  far  gone  in  incu- 
bation as  early  as  June  8.  The  number  seems  to  vary  from  six  to  eight. 

Other  North  Carolina  records  are  as  follows:  Statesville,  found  breeding  by 
McLaughlin;  Jamestown,  Guilford  County,  one  adult  and  two  downy  young  taken 
by  Pearson  in  June,  1893;  Lake  Ellis,  one  seen  early  in  October,  1909,  by  H.  H. 
Brimley. 

Genus  lonornis  (Reichenb.) 

94.  lonornis  martinicus  (Linn.}.    PURPLE  GALLINULE. 

Ad. — Front  of  crown  with  a  bare,  bluish-plumbeous  plate;  rest  of  head  and  underparts  rich, 
dark,  purplish  blue;  under  tail-coverts  white;  back  shining  olive-green;  wings  light  blue  tinged 
with  greenish;  bill  carmine,  tipped  with  pale  greenish  (in  skins,  reddish  orange,  tipped  with 
yellowish);  legs  yellow.  Im. — -Upperparts  more  or  less  washed  with  brownish;  underparts 
more  or  loss  mottled  with  white;  plate  on  the  head  smaller;  bill  without  orange-red.  Downy 
young. — Glossy  black,  head  with  numerous  white,  hair  like  feathers;  base  of  the  bill  yellowish, 
end  black.  L.,  13.00;  W.,  7.10;  Tar.,  2.40;  B.,  from  posterior  margin  of  nostril,  .80.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  from  South  Carolina  southward  to  Paraguay;  winters  from  the  Gulf  States 
southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Only  occasional;  so  far  only  recorded  from  Craven  and  Wake 
counties. 


114  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


This  brilliantly  colored  bird  does  not  appear  to  come  often  to  North  Carolina 
and  diligent  search  by  us  in  suitable  regions  of  the  State  has  as  yet  failed  to  reveal 
its  nest.  H.  H.  Brimley  shot  one  which  had  alighted  in  a  tree  on  the  border  of  a 
pond  near  Raleigh  on  June  6,  1887.  Another  specimen  in  the  State  Museum  was 
sent  from  Craven  County.  We  have  no  other  records  of  its  occurrence  within  our 
borders.  It  is  a  marsh-loving  bird  and  should  be  looked  for  among  rushes  or  lily- 
pads  about  the  margins  of  fresh-water  ponds  or  lakes.  Its  nesting  habits  are 
like  those  of  the  rails. 

Genus  Gallinula  (Briss.) 

95.  Gallinula  galeata  galeata  (Licht.}.    FLORIDA  GALLINULE. 

Ad. — Dark  bluish  slate  color;  back  and  scapulars  washed  with  olive-brown;  belly  whitish; 
flanks  with  a  few  conspicuous  white  stieaks;  under  tail-coverts  white;  crown  with  a  bare, 
bright-red  plate;  bill  the  same  color,  tipped  with  yellowish;  legs  bright-red  at  the  tibiae.  1m. — 
Similar,  but  under  parts  grayish  white;  crown-plate  much  smaller  and  the  bill  brownish;  no 
red  on  the  legs.  Downy  young. — "Glossy  black,  the  lowerparts  sooty  along  the  median  line; 
throat  and  cheeks  interspersed  with  silvery  white  hairs"  (Ridgw.).  L.,  13.50;  W.,  7.00;  Tar., 
2.15;  B.,  from  posterior  margin  of  nostril,  .80.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  from  New  York  southward;  winters  from  Georgia  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Occasional  during  the  migrations  in  all  parts  of  the  State.  Has 
been  detected  breeding  in  Craven  County. 


FIG.  76.     FLORIDA  GALLINULE. 

The  Florida  Gallinule  inhabits  reedy  lakes  and  the  backwaters  of  rivers,  building 
its  nest,  like  the  rails,  among  the  tall  stems  of  water-plants.  We  know  of  only  one 
nest  having  been  found  in  the  State.  This  was  discovered  on  Lake  Ellis,  Craven 
County,  by  P.  B.  Philipp,  June  16,  1909.  Thinking  he  had  found  a  nest  of  the 
King  Rail,  and  desiring  to  get  a  photograph  of  the  bird,  he  set  his  camera  and 
from  a  distance  liberated  the  shutter  with  a  string  the  moment  when,  from  his 
hiding-place,  he  discovered  a  bird  entering  the  nest.  Upon  developing  the  plate  he 
found  that  the  camera  had  made  an  interesting  addition  to  North  Carolina  orni- 
thology, for  the  bird  was  a  Florida  Gallinule. 

In  addition  to  this  we  possess  but  seven  records  of  the  bird  in  North  Carolina. 
These  are  as  follows:  Craven  County,  one  taken  by  Clarke  and  Morgan,  1884; 
Bertie  County,  one  found  helpless  in  a  dooryard  after  a  rain,  June  6,  1892;  Orange 


GO 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


115 


County,  one  taken  in  1892;  Buncombe  County,  one  killed  by  Cairns,  May  16,  1891; 
one  seen  alive  in  a  store-window  at  Asheville,  by  Brewster,  May,  1885;  one  caught 
alive  in  Wake  County  by  Bruner,  April  20,  1907;  and,  finally,  an  immature  speci- 
men picked  up  dead  on  the  streets  of  Raleigh  on  September  21,  1918.  This  lat- 
ter specimen  showed  a  shot- wound,  on  being  skinned;  it  was  perfectly  fresh  and 
excessively  fat. 

Genus  Fulica  (Linn.) 

96.  Fulica  americana  (Gmel).    COOT. 

Ads. — Head  and  neck  blackish;  rest  of  plumage  dark,  bluish,  slate-color,  paler  below;  edge 
of  wing,  tips  of  secondaries,  and  under  tail-coverts  white;  bill  whitish,  two  spots  near  its  tip 
and  crown-plate  brownish;  legs  and  feet  greenish;  toes  with  scalloped  flaps.  Im. — Similar, 
but  much  whiter  below,  a  slight  brownish  wash  above;  crown-plate  much  smaller.  Downy 
young. — Blackish,  white  below;  throat  and  upperparts  with  numerous  bright  orange,  hairlike 
feathers;  lores  red;  bill  red,  tipped  with  black.  L.,  15.00;  W.,  7.50;  Tar.,  2.25;  B.,  from  pos- 
terior margin  of  nostril,  .80. 


FIG.  77.     COOT. 


FIG.  78.     FOOT  OF  COOT. 


Remarks. — The  Coot  bears  a  general  resemblance  to  the  Florida  Gallinule,  but,  aside  from 
the  differences  in  color,  the  scalloped  feet  of  the  Coot  will  always  serve  to  distinguish  it. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  from  southern  Canada  to  New  Jersey  and  California;  winters  from  Virginia 
to  Columbia. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Common  in  the  coastal  region  in  winter;  occasional  in  the  rest 
of  the  State  during  the  migrations. 

This  is  the  "Blue  Peter,"  so  abundant  as  a  winter  visitor  in  our  sounds  and  large 
lakes.  During  the  spring  and  fall  it  is  not  uncommon  to  see  one  or  more  on  small 
ponds  about  the  State.  Nearly  every  migration  season  specimens  are  brought  to 
us  for  identification  by  persons  who  find  them  on  the  ground  helpless  after  a  stormy 


116  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


night.  Many  persons  are  partial  to  the  flesh  of  the  Coot,  and  as  it  is  a  legal  game- 
bird  large  numbers  are  shot  annually.  They  are  much  better  for  the  table  if 
skinned  instead  of  being  plucked.  Bald  Eagles  have  an  unquestionable  fondness 
for  Coots.  Upon  one  occasion  Pearson  witnessed  the  successful  efforts  of  an  Eagle 
thus  engaged.  It  was  in  Currituck  Sound.  A  flock  of  Coots  had  hastily  departed 
upon  the  approach  of  their  great  winged  foe.  One  only  remained  upon  the  water; 
possibly  it  had  been  wing-shot  and  was  unable  to  seek  safety  by  flight.  As  the 
Eagle  swooped  the  Coot  dived,  and  the  Eagle  at  once  rose  aloft.  In  a  short  time 
the  Coot  came  up  for  air,  and  was  instantly  forced  under  water.  This  play  was 
reenacted  for  many  minutes,  until  the  Coot,  having  become  exhausted,  fell  a  prey 
to  its  enemy. 

When  rising  on  the  wing,  Coots  patter  across  the  water  for  some  distance,  and 
the  sound  produced  by  a  large  flock  that  has  been  startled  reminds  one  of  the  falling 
of  hail  or  heavy  raindrops  on  a  resounding  surface. 

Because  of  the  relative  scarcity  of  ponds  in  the  mountainous  part  of  our  State, 
Coots  are  of  comparatively  rare  occurrence  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 

VIII.  ORDER  LIMICOUE.     SHORE-BIRDS 

Among  the  shore-birds  are  many  species  which  are  classed  as  game-birds  on  the 
statute  books,  and  hence  are  more  or  less  well  known  among  gunners.  Most  of  them 
breed  in  the  far  North,  some  well  within  the  Arctic  Circle,  and  their  powers  of 
flight  are  well  exemplified  by  the  known  facts  concerning  their  migration.  An 
extreme  instance  of  this  is  the  well-authenticated  flight  of  flocks  of  Golden  Plover 
from  Nova  Scotia  to  northern  South  America.  The  longest  known  migration  in  this 
Order  is  that  made  by  the  White-rumped  Sandpiper,  which  winters,  nine  thousand 
miles  to  the  southward  of  its  summer  nesting  grounds. 

Shore-birds  are  more  abundant  on  the  Atlantic  coast  during  the  fall  migrations 
than  in  spring.  This  may  be  accounted  for  by  the  supposition  that  many  return 
northward  by  way  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  The  young  are  hatched  with  a  downy 
covering  and  can  run  about  actively  soon  after  emerging  from  the  shell. 

"  Many  other  curious  facts  concerning  the  migration  of  this  group  of  long-distance 
travelers  are  known,  although  there  is  yet  a  great  deal  to  be  learned  of  the  details 
of  these  long  journeys.  What  impresses  one  most  in  the  matter  is  the  tremendous 
powers  of  flight  and  endurance  that  many  of  the  species  possess,  powers,  so  far  as 
we  know,  not  excelled  by  any  other  birds.  We  do  know  that  some  of  the  gulls, 
albatrosses,  man-o'war-birds,  etc.,  are  flyers  of  great  endurance,  but  all  of  these 
are  perfectly  able  to  rest  on  the  water  at  any  time.  Whether  the  Golden  Plover, 
or  any  other  of  those  that  cross  the  longest  stretches  of  watery  waste,  do  this  is  a 
matter  of  conjecture  of  which  we  have  no  records.  All  the  species  of  the  group 
can  swim,  and  some  of  them  at  least  will  not  only  swim  but  will  dive  and  swim 
under  water  when  wounded.  This  I  have  actually  seen  for  myself.  An  ocean 
journey  of  twenty-five  hundred  miles  without  a  rest  seems  almost  incredible,  as  it 
would  mean  a  sustained  flight  of  fifty  hours  at  a  speed  of  fifty  miles  an  hour,  or 
thirty-six  hours  (two  days  and  a  night)  at  seventy-mile  speed — a  flight  that  one 
cannot  imagine  any  bird  making  without  food  or  rest. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  117 


"From  among  our  galleries  of  mental  pictures  certain  ones  stand  out  like  the 
works  of  old  masters  among  a  lot  of  gaudy  chromos.  Soft  of  tone  and  broad  of 
treatment,  none  show  up  fairer  or  with  a  greater  fullness  of  expression  than  do 
some  of  those  of  the  wide  expanse  of  salt-marsh — with  the  high  yellow  dunes  in 
the  background — the  dark  gray-browns  of  the  exposed  oyster-rocks  among  the 
smoother  mud-flats,  or  the  broad  stretches  of  dazzling  sand  and  sea-worn  shells 
where  the  heat-waves  shimmer  mirage-like  back  into  the  unmeasurable  distances. 
Above  the  soft  lap  of  the  summer  wavelets  on  the  drift-strewn  shore-line  come 
various  familiar  notes.  The  soft  call  of  the  Knot,  the  squeaking  whistle  of  the 
Krieker,  the  twittering  of  the  little  'Sea-chickens.'  Then  a  soft  flute-like  whistle 
tells  us  that  the  Yellow-legs  are  flying,  or  a  louder  pilly-will-wiUet  lets  us  know  that 
Willets  are  not  far  away.  This  whistle  of  the  Beetle-head,  the  low,  plaintive  call  of 
the  Ring-neck,  or  the  peep  of  the  Piping  Plover,  all  add  to  the  charm  of  the  place 
that  only  the  beach-rambler  knows. 

"  Along  the  sandy,  sea-lapped  beaches,  abroad  on  the  wide,  naked  mud-flats,  and 
peopling  the  bare  and  muddy  rocks  of  '  coon '  oysters,  are  hundreds  and  thousands 
of  birds.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  Fish  Crows,  Gulls  and  Boat-tailed  Grackles, 
they  are  all  'beach'  birds.  From  the  big,  conspicuous  Oyster-catcher  all  the  way 
down  to  the  crowded  hundreds  of  little,  restless  'peeps',  all  are  alive  and  active. 
For  it  is  May,  and  the  great  northward  migration  is  on.  If  you  are  after  meat — 
and  sport — you  will  build  a  blind  and  set  out  a  dozen  or  more  of  flat  profile  decoys; 
but  if  the  bag  is  with  you  a  secondary  consideration,  a  leisurely  prowl  along  the  sea 
line  and  the  borders  of  the  marsh  will  repay  you  better.  The  birds  are  restless; 
many  of  them  are  by  no  means  shy,  and  there  is  a  page  or  two  of  the  great  open 
book  of  Outdoors  to  be  read.  You  have  your  field-glass  with  you  (better  leave 
the  gun  at  home  than  it) ,  and  where  the  print  is  fine  or  the  letters  blur,  use  your 
glass. 

"Over  on  the  short  grass  of  the  salt-marsh  an  inconspicuous  brownish  object 
shows  and  disappears.  On  turning  the  glasses  that  way  other  patches  of  brown  are 
seen,  gradually  assuming  shape  and  proportion.  '  Curlew's,'  (Hudsonian,  of  course), 
you  mutter,  'fifteen  or  twenty  of  them.'  And  right  there  you  remember  the  gun  in 
your  hand  and  make  a  hike  for  the  birds  like  the  bloodthirsty  hunter  you  really 
are.  They  rise  out  of  shot,  but  a  crouch  behind  a  tussock  of  rushes,  and  a  call  or 
two,  and  they  swing  back — and  a  couple  come  down  to  the  double  discharge.  While 
watching  the  remainder  of  the  flock  disappear  in  the  distance,  a  compactly  built 
bird  comes  with  rapid  and  regular  strokes  of  its  pointed  wings.  You  crouch  again — 
and  a  '  Beetle-head'  is  added  to  the  bag.  Note  the  dense  black  of  the  underparts,  in 
sharp  contrast  to  the  grays  of  the  back  and  the  light  shades  of  the  rest  of  the  body. 

"Along  the  edge  of  the  marsh  some  medium-sized  birds  are  feeding,  along  with 
the  Peeps  and  Red-backs.  They  are  long  of  leg  and  gray  of  body,  and  the  glasses 
show  them  to  be  Yellow-legs,  and  you  squat  on  a  dry  tussock  and  watch  them. 

"The  beach  here  is  only  a  few  hundred  yards  wide,  and  back  of  and  parallel  with 
it  runs  a  shallow,  brackish  creek-like  and  marshy  sound,  farther  than  the  eye  can 
reach,  until  it  joins  the  waters  of  the  sea  at  the  inlet  ten  miles  away.  An  ideal 


118  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


place !  Birds  are  passing  back  and  forth  all  the  time.  The  Ring-necked  and  Piping 
Plovers  are  about  the  sound-side,  along  with  the  peeps  (Semipalmated  and  Least 
Sandpipers)  and  Red-backed  Sandpipers.  Black-bellied  Plover  come  and  go — once 
in  awhile  stopping  to  feed  along  with  the  smaller  species.  Here  and  there  a  turn- 
stone  or  two  shows  large  among  the  little  'Sea-chickens.'  Greater  and  Lesser 
Yellow-legs  are  in  and  about  the  shallow  pools  of  the  marsh-borders,  while  over  on 
the  marsh  itself  some  curlews  are  usually  in  evidence.  Louisiana  and  Little  Blue 
Heron  dot  the  flat  marshland,  with  a  few  Snowy  and  white-plumaged  Little  Blue 
Herons  showing  up  conspicuously  against  the  bright  green  of  the  salt-marsh  grass. 
A  Least  Tern  shrills  overhead  and  a  Laughing  Gull  cackles  as  he  goes  by.  On  the 
hot,  dry  sand-flats  the  Wilson's  Plover  run,  and  hide  by  standing  still.  A  pair  of 
Oyster-catchers  are  hard  to  drive  from  one  wide,  rolling  expanse  of  yellow  sand, 
where  the  worn  and  rounded  shell-fragments  show  that  the  sea  has  some  time  in  the 
past  joined  sound  and  ocean  during  a  high  tide  and  heavy  southerly  gale.  They 
evidently  have  a  nest  near  by,  but  a  diligent  search  fails  to  discover  it. 

"  As  the  sun  drops  low  and  the  tide  is  again  on  the  ebb  the  morning's  experiences 
may  be  repeated;  and  when  you  seek  the  old  camp  at  night  to  feed  and  rest  the 
bodily  man,  you  will  feel  that  the  spiritual  and  aesthetic  sides  of  your  ego  have  that 
day  been  bidden  to  a  feast  and  have  risen  therefrom  strengthened  and  refreshed." — 
H.  H.  BRIMLEY. 

KEY  TO  FAMILIES 

1.  Toes  lobate,   or  with  distinct  lateral  membranes;   tarsus   extremely   compressed.     (Phala- 
ropes.)     Phalaropodidoe. 

1.  Toes  not  lobate,  tarsus  not  specially  compressed.     See  2. 

2.  Tarsus  more  than  twice  middle  toe  with  claw;  naked  part  of  tibia  much  longer  than  middle 

toe  with  claw.     (Avocets  and  Stilts.)     Recurvirostridos. 

2.  Tarsus  less  than  twice  middle  toe  with  claw;  naked  portion  of  tibia  shorter  than  middle  toe 

with  claw.     See  3. 

3.  Tarsus  scutellate  in  front.     See  4. 

3.  Tarsus  reticulate  in  front.     See  5. 

4.  Bill  slender  with  a  bluntish  tip.     (Snipes  and  Sandpipers.)     Scolopacidoe. 

4.  Bill  stout,  hard,  pointed,  and  wedge-shaped  at  tip.     (Turnstones.)     Aphrizidoe. 

5.  Bill  not  longer  than  tarsus,  not  compressed,  contracted  behind  the  horny  tip,  shaped  some- 

what like  a  pigeon's  bill.     (Plovers.)     Charadriidoe. 
5.  Bill  longer  than  tarsus,  much  compressed  at  tip.     (Oyster-catchers.)     Hoematopodidce. 

18.    FAMILY  PHALAROPODIDOE.      PHALAROPES 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

A  small  family  of  three  genera  and  as  many  species,  all  of  which  have  been 
taken  in  our  State. 

1.  Bill  subulate,  very  slender.     Membrane  of  toes  scalloped.     Lobipes. 

1.  Bill  as  above.     Membrane  of  toes  not  scalloped.     Steganopus. 

1.  Bill  stoutish,  flattened,  with  lancet-shaped  tip.     Membrane  of  toes  scalloped.     Phalaropus* 

Genus  Phalaropus  (Briss.) 
97.  Phalaropus  fulicarius  (Linn.).    RED  PHALAROPE. 

Toes  webbed  at  base  and  with  scalloped  lobes  terminally;  bill  heavy,  wider  than  deep. 
Ad.  9  in  summer. —Crown  and  chin  fuscous;  cheeks  white;  back  black,  the  feathers  bordered 
with  cream-buff;  wings  gray;  some  of  the  secondaries  and  tips  of  greater  coverts  white;  upper 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


119 


tail-coverts  rufous;  underparts  dull,  reddish  brown,  often  with  scattered  white  feathers.  Ad.  cf 
in  summer. — -Similar,  but  smaller,  crown  striped  like  back,  little  or  no  white  in  cheeks.  Juv. — 
Similar  to  ads.  in  winter,  but  upperparts  margined  with  buff,  chest  washed  with  buff.  Ads. 
and  juv.  in  winter. — Top  of  head  and  underparts  white;  region  about  eye  and  back  of  neck 
fuscous;  back  and  scapulars  dark  pearl-gray;  wings  grayish  fuscous,  the  coverts  and  secondaries 
tipped  with  white;  rump  and  tail  fuscous.  L.,  8.12;  W.,  5.37;  B.,  .87;  Tar.,  .82. 

Remarks. — The  Juvenal  plumage  is  worn  until  October  or  November.  Molting  spring  birds 
are  strikingly  pied  below.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  and  southern  oceans,  breeding  in  Arctic  regions,  wintering  far  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -So  far  reported  from  the  coastal  region  in  February  and  April. 

This  bird  is  pelagic  and  may  be  looked  for  in  the  ocean  off  our  coast  in  winter. 
It  apparently  does  not  come  on  the  beaches  unless  driven  in  by  unusual  stress  of 
weather.  Our  records  of  its  occurrence  in  North  Carolina  are  as  follows : 


FIG.  79.     RED  PHALABOPE. 

On  April  2,  or  3,  1896,  Gerald  H.  Thayer  was  shown  by  the  keeper  of  Cape 
Lookout  lighthouse  about  a  dozen  dead  Red  Phalaropes  that  had  been  killed  by 
the  light  at  night.  Bishop  writes :  "  Capt.  N.  E.  Gould  sent  me  twelve  Red  Phala- 
ropes which  were  collected  at  Bodie  Island,  Dare  County,  six  on  April  8,  and  six 
on  April  17,  1907."  One  was  received  in  the  flesh  at  the  State  Museum,  Raleigh, 
on  February  23,  1909,  sent  in  by  M.  Leslie  Davis  of  Beaufort. 

Genus  Lobipes  (Cuv.) 

98.  Lobipes  lobatus  (Linn.}.    NORTHERN  PHALAROPE. 

Description. — Adult  dark  plumbeous,  variegated  with  tawny;  rump  and  underparts  white; 
neck  mainly  rufous;  underparts  white;  immature  and  winter  birds  with  more  white  than  adults. 
L.,  7.00  to  8.00;  W.,  4.00  to  4.50. 


120 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Range. — Nearly  cosmopolitan  (on  the  seas),  breeding  in  Arctic  regions  and  supposed  to  win- 
ter far  to  the  south  of  the  equator. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Reported  from  the  coastal  region,  off  shore. 

C.  J.  Maynard,  in  Birds  of  Eastern  North  America,  published  in  1881,  refers  to 
seeing  Northern  Phalaropes  along  the  coast  of  "the  Carolinas,"  and  says  they 
are  most  common  in  the  ocean  just  off  Pamlico  Sound.  Their  actual  capture,  how- 
ever, appears  not  to  have  been  effected  until  September  23,  1909,  when  H.  H.  Brim- 
ley  found  a  company  of  five  on  White  Lake  in  Bladen  County  and  shot  three  of 
these.  They  were  feeding  on  the  water  late  in  the  evening  of  two  consecutive  days, 
.and  he  was  enabled  to  approach  in  a  boat  within  fifteen  yards  of  them.  He  describes 
them  as  most  peculiar  birds  on  the  water,  darting  about  on  the  surface  more  like 
insects  than  birds. 


FIG.  80.     NORTHERN  PHALAROPE. 


FIG.  81.     FOOT  OF 
NORTHERN 
PHALAROPE. 


Genus  Steganopus  (Vieill.) 
99.  Steganopus  tricolor  (Vieill.).    WILSON'S  PHALAROPE. 

Description:  Ad.  female  in  summer. — Top  of  the  head  and  middle  of  the  back  pearl-gray, 
nape  white;  a  black  streak  passes  through  eye  to  side  of  neck,  and,  changing  to  rufous-chestnut, 
continues  down  the  sides  of  the  back  and  on  scapulars;  neck  and  upper  breast  washed  with 
pale,  brownish  rufous;  rest  of  underparts  and  upper  tail-coverts  white.  Ad.  male  in  summer. — • 
Upperparts  fuscous-brown,  bordered  with  grayish  brown;  upper  tail-coverts,  nape,  and  a  line 
over  the  eye  white  or  whitish;  sides  of  the  neck_  and  breast  washed  with  rufous;  rest  of  the 
underparts  white.  Ads.  and  juv.  in  winter. — Upperparts  gray,  margined  with  white;  upper 
tail-coverts  white;  wings  fuscous,  their  coverts  margined  with  buffy;  underparts  white.  Juv. — • 
"Top  of  head,  back,  and  scapulars  dusky  blackish,  the  feathers  distinctly  bordered  with  buff; 
wing-coverts  also  bordered  with  pale  buff  or  whitish;  upper  tail-coverts,  superciliary  stripe, 
and  lowerparts  white,  the  neck  tinged  with  buff"  (Ridgw.).  Male,  L.,  8.75;  W.,  4.75;  Tar., 
1.20;  B.,  1.20.  Female,  L.,  9.50;  W.,  5.25;  Tar.,  1.30;  B.,  1.30.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  121 


Range. — North  and  South  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States;  winters 
in  South  America,  south  of  the  equator. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far  only  taken  in  Currituck  County. 

A  Wilson's  Phalarope  was  collected  on  the  beach  opposite  Knott's  Island,  Curri- 
tuck County,  by  R.  B.  Lawrence,  August  17,  1908.  The  specimen  is  preserved  in 
the  bird-collection  of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  New  York  City. 
One  was  taken  by  Jasper  B.  White  on  Currituck  beach,  opposite  Church's  Island, 
on  August  25, 1910.  The  bird  was  identified  by  W.  L.  McAtee,  of  the  United  States 
Biological  Survey.  Another  specimen  was  killed  by  Jasper  B.  White  on  Currituck 
Sound,  September  13,  1911.  (W.  L.  McAtee  in  letter,  Oct.  14,  1911.)  Frederick 
William  Kobbe  in  The  Auk  for  January,  1912,  places  on  record  the  following: 
"Immature  birds  in  winter  plumage  were  shot  near  Currituck  lighthouse,  North 
Carolina,  by  Mr.  Whitlock  and  Mr.  Nourve  on  September  7,  September  8  (two), 
and  September  12,  1911.  A  well-marked  female  was  taken  by  me  September  14. 
This  bird  was  so  tame  that  it  allowed  me  almost  to  touch  it  before  it  flew  away  in 
a  zigzag  manner.  An  old  gunner  at  Currituck  had  never  seen  these  birds  before." 


FIG.   82.     WILSON'S  PHALAROPE. 
19.    FAMILY  RECURVIROSTRID>£.     AVOCETS  AND  STILTS 

A  small  family  of  birds  allied  to  the  sandpipers  and  snipes,  but  with  the  legs 
excessively  long,  and  the  bill  very  slender,  long  and  acute. 

There  are  only  two  American  genera,  each  represented  in  North  America  by  a 
single  species,  both  of  which  have  been  taken  rarely  in  our  State. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Toes  4,  the  front  ones  full  webbed;  bill  recurved,  tapering  to  a  fine  point.     Recurvirostra. 
1.  Toes  3,  semipalmate;  bill  nearly  straight.     Himantopus. 

Genus  Recurvirostra  (Linn.) 
100.  Recurvirostra  americana  (Gmel.}.    AVOCET. 

Description. — Bill  slender,  recurved.  Ads.  in  summer. — Head  and  neck  cinnamon-rufous; 
back  and  tail  white,  scapulars  and  primaries  black;  middle  coverts,  tips  of  the  greater  ones, 
and  part  of  the  secondaries  white;  belly  white,  bill  turned  upward.  Ads.  in  winter  and  juv. — 
Generally  similar,  but  head  and  neck  white  or  pearl-gray.  L.,  16.50;  W.,  9.00;  Tar.,  3.75; 
B.  3.75.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 


122  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Range. — North  America,  rare  east  of  the  Mississippi,  breeding  from  Northern  Texas  to  the 
Canadian  line,  wintering  from  southern  Texas  to  Central  America. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — Once  observed  near  Beaufort. 

"Avocets  are  common  birds  in  parts  of  the  interior  of  the  United  States,  but  are 
rare  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  They  frequent  shores  and  shallow  pools,  and  in  search- 
ing for  shells,  Crustacea,  etc.,  their  peculiar  recurved  bill  is  used  in  a  most  interesting 
manner.  Dropping  it  beneath  the  surface  of  the  water  until  its  convexity  touches 
the  bottom,  they  move  rapidly  forward,  and  with  every  step  swing  their  bill  from 
side  to  side,  as  a  mower  does  his  scythe.  In  this  way  they  secure  food  which  the 
muddy  water  would  prevent  them  from  seeing."  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 


FIG.  83.     AVOOET. 

A  flock  seen  by  Coues  near  Fort  Macon,  September  12,  1869,  is  our  only  record 
for  North  Carolina. 

Genus  Himantopus  (Briss.) 

101.  Himantopus  mexicanus  (Mull).    BLACK-NECKED  STILT. 

Ad.  cf1. — A  white  spot  above  and  another  below  eye;  front  of  head,  front  of  neck,  lower 
back,  rump,  and  underparts  white;  tail  grayish;  rest  of  plumage  glossy,  greenish  black.  Ad. 
9  • — Similar,  but  with  back  fuscous-brown,  Juv. — Similar,  but  whole  upperparts  margined 
with  rusty.  L.,  15.00;  W.,  9.00;  Tar.,  4.15;  B.,  2.00.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  locally  from  central  Oregon  to  Florida  and  the  West  Indies;  winters  from 
the  Gulf  Coast  to  Peru. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Once  taken  in  Dare  County,  near  the  ocean  beach. 

A  mounted  Stilt  is  to  be  found  in  the  museum  at  Trinity  College,  Durham,  North 
Carolina.  Rev.  S.  T.  Moyle  of  Mount  Gilead,  who  took  the  specimen,  has  written 
us  as  follows:  "I  think  it  was  during  June,  1900,  I  was  shooting  shore-birds  on 
the  beach  south  of  Nag's  Head,  Dare  County,  when  I  saw  this  bird  with  a  flock 
of  Yellowlegs.  I  tried  to  secure  it,  but  only  crippled  it.  A  friend  who  was  with 
me  then  killed  it  and  gave  it  to  me."  Bishop  informs  us  that  he  saw  a  mounted 
specimen  at  Manteo,  Roanoke  Island,  Dare  County,  in  May  1902.  It  was  in  the 
possession  of  a  minister,  and  he  understood  it  had  been  shot  in  the  spring  of  1901 
or  1902.  Apparently  both  statements  refer  to  the  same  bird,  as  the  Trinity  College 
specimen  remained  at  Manteo  for  some  years  before  being  brought  to  Durham. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  123 


FIG.  84.     BLACK-NECKED  STILT. 
2.O.    FAMILY  SCOLOPACID>E.     SNIPES,  SANDPIPERS,  ETC. 

These  are  the  most  familiar  and  numerous  of  our  shore-birds,  varying  greatly 
in  size  and  appearance,  yet  always  retaining  a  more  or  less  snipe-like  appearance. 
The  genera  that  occur  in  our  State  are  numerous  and  may  be  distinguished  by  the 
aid  of  the  following  table: 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Tarsus  scutellate  in  front  only.     Bill  very  long,  decurved.     (Curlews.)     Numenius. 

1.  Tarsus  scutellate  in  front  and  behind.     Bill  not  much  decurved.     See  2. 

2.  Eyes  far  back,  directly  above  ears,  tip  of  upper  mandible  thickened.     Plumage  unchang- 

ing.    See  3. 

2.  Eyes  not  far  back,  considerably  in  front  of  ears.     Tip  of  upper  mandible  thin.     Summer 

and  winter  plumages  different.     See  4. 

3.  Tibiae  entirely  feathered.     Three  outermost  quills  of  wing  much  shorter  and  narrower  than 

the  others.     Philohela. 

3.  Tibiae  naked  below.     None  of  the  wing- quills  notably  different  from  the  others.     Gallinago. 

4.  Hind  toe  wanting.     Calidris. 

4.  Hind  toe  present.     See  5. 

5.  Toes  not  webbed  at  all,  or  with  a  single  minute  web.     See  6. 

5.  Toes  more  or  less  webbed  at  base.     See  9. 

6.  Bill  shorter  than  middle  toe  with  claw.     Inner  webs  of  wing-quills  mottled.     Tryngites. 

6.  Bill  not   shorter   than  middle  toe  with   claw.     Inner  webs  of  wing-quills   not  mottled. 

See  7. 

7.  Wing  6  inches  or  more.     Middle  pair  of  tail-feathers  not  longer  than  the  rest.     Tringa. 

7.  Wing  less  than  6.     Middle  pair  of  tail-feathers  longer  and  more  pointed  than  the  rest. 

See8. 

8.  Bill  scarcely  longer  than  tarsus,  and  not  half  the  length  of  tail.     Pisobia. 

8.  Bill  considerably  longer  than  tarsus,  and  more  than  two-thirds  the  length  of  tail.     Pelidna. 

9.  Tail  graduated,  more  than  half  length  of  wing.     Bartramia. 

9.  Tail  little  graduated,  not  more  than  half  the  length  of  wing.     See  10. 

10.  Tail  shorter  than  bill.     Gape  not  reaching  behind  base  of  culmen.     Tail  barred  or  else 
chiefly  black.     See  11. 

10.  Tail  longer  than  bill    (from  frontal  feathers).     Gape  reaching  beyond  base  of  culmen. 

See  12. 

11.  Culmen  smooth,  not  grooved.     Limosa. 

11.  Culmen   with   a   median   groove.     Tip   of   both   mandibles    wrinkled   or   pitted.     Macro- 
rhamphus. 


124  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


12.  Wing  less  than  4.     Toes  well  webbed  at  base.     Both  mandibles  grooved  to  the  tip.     Tail 
not  barred.     Ereunetes. 

12.  Wing  not  less  than  4.     See  13. 

13.  Exposed  culmen  less  than  one-fifth  as  long  as  the  wing.     Machetes. 

13.  Exposed  culmen  more  than  one-fifth  as  long  as  the  wing.     See  14. 

14.  Bill  slightly  broadened  at  tip,  its  upper  surface  slightly  wrinkled  or  pitted.     Micropalama. 

14.  Bill  narrower  at  tip,  its  upper  surface  hard  and  smooth,  not  grooved  to  the  tip.     Tail 

barred.     See  15. 

15.  Wing  less  than  4J^.     Tarsus  about  as  long  as  middle  toe  and  claw.     Actitis. 

15.  Wing  more  than  4J/2.     Tarsus  rather  longer  than  middle  toe  and  claw.     See  16. 

16.  Bill  stout.     Legs  bluish.     Catoptrophorus. 

16.  Bill  slender.     Legs  not  blusih.     See  17. 

17.  Legs  yellow.     Tarsus  more  than  one  and  one-half  times  middle  toe  without  claw.     Totanus. 
17.  Legs  dusky.     Tarsus  much  less  than  one  and  one-half  times  middle  toe  without  claw. 

Helodromas. 

Genus  Philohela  (Gray) 
102.  Philohela  minor  (GmeL).    WOODCOCK. 

Ads. — Front  of  crown  slaty,  washed  with  buff,  an  indistinct  blackish  line  in  its  center,  and 
another  from  eye  to  bill;  back  of  head  black,  with  two  or  three  bars  of  ochraceous-buff;  rest 
of  upperparts  black,  margined  with  slaty,  and  barred  and  mottled  with  rufous  or  ochraceous- 
buff;  tip  of  tail  ashy  gray  above,  silvery  beneath;  underparts  between  ochraceous-buff  and 
rufous;  outer  three  primaries  very  narrow  and  much  stiffened.  L.,  11.00;  W.,  5.40;  Tar.,  1.25: 
B.,  2.90.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  northern  Florida  to  southern  Canada,  and 
wintering  from  southern  New  Jersey  to  southern  Florida. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons,  in  damp,  shady  woods  and  low- 
ground  thickets. 


FIG.  85.     WOODCOCK. 

No  bird  so  stirs  the  heart  of  the  average  sportsman  as  the  Woodcock,  and  the 
rumor  of  its  appearance  in  any  place  is  sure  to  send  one  or  more  enthusiastic  gun- 
ners to  explore  the  neighborhood.  To  find  this  shy  bird  one  must  penetrate  the 
woodland  bogs  and  swamps,  or  occasionally  standing  corn  near  water.  Rarely  does 
it  venture  on  the  open  flats  so  beloved  by  the  Wilson's  Snipe.  When  flushed  its 
flight  is  usually  short  and  comparatively  weak,  but  the  thick  cover  in  which  it  is 
found  often  saves  it  from  the  hunter's  aim.  One  may  look  for  the  Woodcock  in 
suitable  places  throughout  the  State. 

George  B.  Sennett  in  The  Auk  for  July,  1887,  speaks  of  finding  one  near  the 
summit  of  Roan  Mountain,  and  in  the  swamps  of  Tyrrell  County.  It  is  so  abun- 
dant some  years  that  market-hunters  find  it  profitable  to  pursue  it. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  125 


The  Woodcock  is  a  resident  in  North  Carolina,  but  our  native  population  is  con- 
siderably augmented  during  the  colder  months  by  an  influx  of  birds  from  farther 
north. 

The  nest  is  a  slight  depression  on  the  ground  among  the  fallen  leaves,  usually  in 
a  thicket  of  young  trees.  So  closely  do  the  colorings  of  the  bird's  plumage  blend  with 
the  surroundings  that  one  may  pass  within  a  few  feet  of  a  brooding  bird  without 
discovering  its  presence.  Apparently  Woodcocks  are  well  aware  of  this,  for  they 
will  often  sit  until  almost  trod  upon  before  taking  wing. 

Their  nests  are  often  found  in  March,  but  our  knowledge  of  the  full  extent  of  the 
nesting  season  is  quite  limited.  On  October  5,  1909,  Pearson  saw  one  in  a  swamp 
in  Guilford  County  flutter  along  the  ground  as  if  accompanied  by  young. 

The  European  Woodcock,  Scolopax  rusticola  (Linn.),  a  considerably  larger  but  very  similar 
bird,  has  been  found  as  a  straggler  from  Newfoundland  to  Virginia.  It  may  be  distinguished 
by  its  size,  and  by  the  underparts  being  cross-banded  with  dark  brown.  L.,  13.50;  W.,  8.CO. 

;  Genus  Gallinago  (Koch.) 

103.  Gallinago  delicata  (Ord.).    WILSON'S  SNIPE. 

Ads. — Upperparts  black,  barred,  bordered,  and  mottled  with  different  shades  of  cream-buff; 
wings  fuscous;  outer  edge  of  outer  primary  and  tips  of  greater  coverts  white;  throat  white; 
neck  and  breast  ochraceous-buff,  indistinctly  streaked  with  blackish;  belly  white,  sides  barred 
with  black;  under  tail-coverts  buffy,  barred  with  black;  outer  tail-feathers  barred  with  black 
and  white,  inner  ones  black,  barred  with  rufous  at  their  ends  and  tipped  with  whitish.  L., 
11.25;  W.,  5.00;  Tar.,  1.20;  B.,  2.50.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America  and  northern  South  America,  breeding  from  Pennsylvania  north- 
ward, and  wintering  from  North  Carolina  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Common  throughout  the  State  during  the  migrations;  it  winters 
in  the  coastal  region. 


FIG.  86.     WILSON'S  SNIPE. 

This,  the  best  known  and  most  widely  distributed  game-bird  of  the  snipe  and 
sandpiper  family,  occurs  plentifully  in  suitable  situations  during  the  spring  migra- 
tions, reaching  its  greatest  abundance  in  March.  Wet  meadows,  marshes,  and 
burnt-over  lowgrounds  are  its  favorite  haunts.  Its  distribution  is  very  irregular,  but 
all  over  the  eastern  half  or  two-thirds  of  the  State  it  is  likely  to  be  found  in  suitable 
localities  at  any  time  from  a  warm  spell  in  the  latter  part  of  February  up  to  the 
last  week  in  April.  It  is  comparatively  rare  in  the  fall.  In  the  eastern  and  south- 


126  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


eastern  parts  of  the  State  it  is  a  more  or  less  regular  winter  resident,  the  severity 
of  the  weather  being  the  controlling  factor. 

As  a  game-bird  it  is  most  satisfactory  to  the  true  sportsman.  Usually  flushing 
quickly  and  unexpectedly,  with  a  rapid,  zigzag  flight,  the  most  experienced  gunners 
find  it  a  difficult  mark.  As  the  birds  usually  rise  against  the  wind,  it  is  a  good  plan 
to  work  the  meadows  and  marshes  down  wind,  so  far  as  possible.  An  experienced 
retriever  is  a  good  adjunct  in  this  kind  of  shooting,  as  a  fallen  bird  is  difficult  to 
distinguish  amid  the  marsh  grass.  It  is  very  erratic  in  its  occurrence,  frequently 
being  abundant  in  favorite  localities  one  day  and  totally  absent  the  next.  This  bird 
is  often  called  "English  Snipe"  in  North  Carolina.  "Jack  Snipe"  is  another  name 
sometimes  heard. 

Genus  Macrorhamphus  (T.  Forst.) 

This  genus  contains  Sandpipers  having  the  general  appearance  of  snipe,  but  the 
eyes  are  not  so  far  back.  One  species,  with  two  subspecies,  belongs  to  our  list. 

KEY  TO  SUBSPECIES 

1.  Length  11  or  less,  culmen  averaging  about  2J^.     Dowitcher. 

1.  Length  11  or  more,  culmen  averaging  about  2%.     Long-billed  Dowitcher. 

104.  Macrorhamphus  griseus  griseus  (GmeL).  DOWITCHER:  RED-BREASTED 
SNIPE. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts,  tertials,  and  wing-coverts  black,  the  feathers  edged  or  barred 
with  ochraceous-buff  or  rufous;  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  tail  barred  with  black  and  more 
or  less  ochraceous-buff;  primaries  fuscous;  underparts  dull,  pale  rufous,  whitish  on  belly,  more 
or  less  spotted  and  barred  with  black.  Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter. — Upperparts  brownish  gray; 
rump  and  tail  barred  with  black  and  white;  throat  and  breast  washed  with  ashy,  belly  white, 
sides  and  under  tail-coverts  barred  with  black.  Juv.— Upperparts  black,  the  feathers  edged 
with  rufous;  rump  and  tail  barred  with  black  and  white,  and  sometimes  washed  with  rufous; 
secondaries  widely  edged  with  white;  underparts  more  or  less  washed  wth  ochraceous-buff 
and  obscurely  spotted  with  blackish.  L.,  10.50;  W.,  5.75;  Tar.,  1.30;  B.,  2.05-2.50. 


FIG.  87.     DOWITCHEB. 


Remarks. — The  barred  tail  and  tail-coverts,  with  the  peculiar  flattened,  pitted  tip  of  the  bill, 
are  characteristic  of  this  species.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  and  South  America.  Breeding  range  unknown,  but  probably  far 
northward;  winters  from  Florida  to  Brazil. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  during  the  migrations. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  127 


The  Dowitcher  or  "Grayback"  is  one  of  the  best  known  of  our  shore-birds.  Its 
migrations  with  us  extend  only  along  the  tidal  reaches  of  the  coast.  Inland,  its 
occurrence  is  merely  accidental.  Feeding  along  the  exposed  mud  flats  left  bare  by 
the  receding  tide,  on  the  open  beach,  or  wading  the  shallow  beach  pools,  this  hand- 
some snipe  moves  in  flocks  that  bring  joy  to  the  heart  of  the  beach  gunner.  The 
flight  is  strong,  swift,  and  steady,  and  the  bunches  are  usually  so  compact  as  to 
enable  the  shooter,  if  he  so  desires,  to  secure  more  than  one  to  the  shot.  It  comes 
well  to  decoys  and  answers  readily  to  a  call  from  the  blind. 

The  height  of  its  spring  migration  is  in  May  and  the  birds  coming  south  in  the 
fall  reach  our  coast  in  July.  Some  remain  almost  to  the  end  of  the  year.  One 
killed  at  Raleigh,  July  29,  1884. 

105.  Macrorhamphus  griseus  scolopaceus  (Say.}    LONG-BILLED  DOWITCHER. 

Ads.  in  summer. — -Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  averaging  larger;  the  bill  especially  is 
longer,  the  underparts  are  more  uniformly  rufous,  and  the  sides  are  more  heavily  barred  with 
black.  Ads.  in  winter  and  Juv. — To  be  distinguished  from  the  corresponding  stages  of  griseus 
only  by  their  larger  size.  W.,  6.00;  Tar.,  1.50;  B.,  2.10-2.90.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Western  North  and  South  America,  breeding  far  northward;  winters  from  Florida 
southward  to  Mexico;  occurs  on  the  Atlantic  coast  during  the  migrations. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  during  the  migrations. 

This  is  a  bird  of  the  middle  and  western  states,  but  occurs  regularly  in  the  east 
in  small  numbers.  The  only  North  Carolina  records  available  are  from  Beaufort 
(Atkinson),  Pea  Island  (July,  1904,  Bishop),  and  two  specimens  taken  by  Bruner 
at  Beaufort,  August  18  and  20,  1910. 


Genus  Micropalama  (Baird) 
106.  Micropalama  himantopus  (Bonap.}.    STILT  SANDPIPER. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts  black,  bordered  with  grayish  and  buffy;  ear-coverts  and  an 
indistinct  line  around  back  of  head  rufous;  secondaries  grayish,  edged  with  white;  primaries 
fuscous;  rump  ashy;  upper  tail-coverts  barred  with  black  and  white;  outer  tail-feathers  with 
broken  dusky  bars,  inner  ones  with  central  streaks  or  margins  of  brownish  gray  or  white; 
underparts  white,  heavily  barred  with  fuscous.  Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter. — Upperparts  brownish 
gray;  upper  tail-coverts  white;  tail  white,  margined  with  brownish  gray;  underparts  white; 


128  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


throat,  neck,  and  sides  indistinctly  streaked  or  washed  with  grayish.  Juv. — Similar,  but 
upperparts  blackish,  margined  with  ochraceous-buff.  L.,  8.25;  W.,  5.00;  Tar.,  1.60;  B.,  1.55. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Remarks. — The  distinguishing  characters  of  this  species  are  the  flattened,  pitted  tip  of  the 
bill,  in  connection  with  the  very  long  legs. 

Range. — Breeds  in  northern  Canada,  winters  in  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Coastal  region  during  the  migrations. 

Our  first  record  for  this  bird  in  the  State  was  made  by  Pearson,  who  took  a  speci- 
men on  May  19,  1898,  at  Cape  Hatteras  (Auk,  Vol.  XVI,  p.  246).  McAtee  col- 
lected one  on  September  6,  and  four  specimens  on  September  8,  1909,  on  Currituck 
Beach,  about  opposite  Church's  Island.  McAtee  also  identified  eight  specimens 
taken  July  29,  and  another  on  September  23,  1910,  from  the  same  locality,  the 
latter  nine  being  collected  by  J.  B.  White.  We  may  regard  it  as  one  of  our  rarer 
sandpipers.  Its  movements,  when  feeding,  are  said  to  be  slow  for  a  sandpiper,  and 
at  times  it  will  squat  close  to  the  ground  in  an  effort  to  avoid  detection. 

Genus  Tringa  (Linn.) 
107.  Tringa  canutus  (Linn.}.    KNOT:    ROBIN  SNIPE. 

Ads.  in  summer.— Upperparts  barred  and  streaked  with  black  and  white  and  rufous;  tail 
ashy  gray,  narrowly  margined  with  whitish;  underparts  dull  rufous;  lower  belly  white  or 
whitish,  sides  sometimes  with  black  bars.  (See  Auk,  X,  1893,  p.  25.)  Ads.  and  Juv.  in  win- 
ter.— Upperparts  plain  brownish  gray;  upper  tail-coverts  barred  with  black  and  white,  tail 
brownish  gray;  breast  and  sides  barred  with  black,  belly  white.  Juv. — Upperparts  pale  brown- 
ish gray;  head  streaked  with  blackish;  back,  wing-coverts,  and  scapulars  with  distinct  black 
and  white  borders;  upper  tail-coverts  barred  with  blackish;  tail  ashy  gray,  narrowly  margined 
with  white;  underparts  white;  breast  finely  streaked  or  spotted  with  blackish;  flanks  barred 
or  streaked  with  blackish.  L.,  10.50;  W.,  6.75;  Tar.,  1.20;  B.,  1.30.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.} 

Range. — Nearly  cosmopolitan,  breeding  far  northward  and  wintering  far  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  during  the  migration. 


FIG.  89.     KNOT. 

The  Knot  is  another  well-known  beach-bird,  the  shore-line  of  the  ocean  and 
sounds  being  its  favorite  feeding-ground.  It  occurs  in  greatest  abundance  in  May. 
From  July  to  September  the  returning  flights  from  the  north  again  enliven  the 
muddy  tide-flats.  It  decoys  well  and  may  often  be  found  associated  with  other 
beach-loving  species.  It  has  been  shot  so  incessantly  that  its  numbers  have  been 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  129 


much  reduced  in  recent  years.  Many  of  the  birds  are  said  now  to  make  a  part  of 
their  southward  flight  over  the  ocean,  a  course  which  insures  them  protection  from 
local  gunners. 

One  species  of  the  genus  Arquatella,  the  Purple  Sandpiper,  A.  maritima  maritima  (Briinn.), 
may  occur  with  us  as  a  straggler,  as  it  winters  as  far  south  as  Long  Island,  and  has  been 
known  to  wander  to  Georgia  and  Florida.  Its  generic  characters  would  bring  it  under  the 
second  branch  of  7  in  the  generic  key,  but  it  may  be  distinguished  by  having  the  tarsus  shorter 
than  the  middle  toe  with  claw.  The  species  is  about  the  size  of  a  Pectoral  Sandpiper. 

Genus  Pisobia  (Billb.) 

Three  species  of  this  genus  visit  us,  and  a  fourth  is  also  likely  to  be  recorded 
in  autumn. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Wing  less  than  4.00.     Least  Sandpiper. 

1.  Wing  more  than  4.50.     See  2. 

2.  Upper  tail-coverts  white,  but  sometimes  streaked  with  dusky.     White-rumped  Sandpiper. 
2.  Upper  tail-coverts  not  white.     Pectoral  Sandpiper. 

108.  Pisobia  maculata  (Vieill.}.    PECTORAL  SANDPIPER. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts  black,  all  the  feathers  heavily  bordered  with  pale  ochraceous- 
buff;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  black,  lightly  tipped  with  ochraceous-buff;  middle  tail- 
feathers  longest,  pointed  and  margined  with  buffy;  outer  tail-feathers  brownish  gray,  narrowly 
margined  with  white;  throat  white,  neck  and  breast  heavily  streaked  with  black  and  buffy; 
rest  of  underparts  white.  Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter. — -Similar,  but  ochraceous-buff  of  under- 
parts  replaced  by  rufous,  and  breast  heavily  washed  with  buffy.  L.,  9.00;  W.,  5.40;  Tar.,  1.10; 
B.,  1.15.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  in  Arctic  America;  winters  in  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — 'Has  been  taken  during  the  migrations  at  Raleigh  and  in  the 
coastal  region. 


FIG.  90.     PECTORAL  SANDPIPER. 

This  sandpiper,  which  is  much  less  strictly  a  salt-water  bird  than  the  two  pre- 
ceding, frequents  wet  meadows  and  marshes  rather  than  mud-flats  and  beaches. 
It  is  a  "flocking"  bird,  usually  flying  in  compact  bunches  which  may  be  raked  by  a 
gunner's  fire  in  a  most  destructive  manner.  It  also  decoys  readily. 

With  a  more  or  less  regular  spring  migration  movement  as  far  up  the  State  as 
Raleigh,  it  may  be  lo  oked  for  in  wet  meadows  (preferring  a  little  more  water  among 
the  grass  than  Wilson's  Snipe)  almost  anywhere  within  our  borders  where  condi- 
tions suit  its  requirements. 

The  spring  migration  dates  for  this  bird  are  late  March  and  early  April.  In  the 
fall  it  is  much  less  common  inland,  and  our  few  dates  for  this  season  of  the  year 

9 


130  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


show  its  presence  in  the  State  from  August  to  November.    It  breeds  in  the  far 
north  and  winters  from  the  West  Indies  south. 

This  is  a  gamy  little  bird,  and  Jack  Snipe  shooting  is  not  to  be  despised  when 
nothing  larger  is  to  be  had. 

109.  Pisobia  fuscicollis  (VieHl.).    WHITE-RUMPED  SANDPIPER. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts  black,  edged  with  rufous;  rump  grayish  fuscous,  margined 
with  ashy;  longer  upper  tail-coverts  white,  with  sometimes  brownish-gray  markings;  central 
tail-feathers  fuscous,  outer  ones  brownish  gray;  upper  throat  white;  neck,  breast,  and  sides 
distinctly  streaked  and  spotted  with  black  and  more  or  less  washed  with  ochraceous-buff. 
Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter.- — •"  Upperparts  plain  brownish  gray,  with  indistinct,  narrow,  mesial 
streaks  of  dusky;  otherwise  as  in  summer,  but  streaks  on  chest,  etc.,  less  distinct"  (Ridgw.). 
Juv. — Similar  to  summer  examples,  but  the  feathers  of  the  upperparts  with  rounded  whitish 
or  ochraceous-buff  tips;  breast  less  distinctly  streaked.  L.,  7.50;  W.,  4.90;  Tar.,  .90;  B.,  .95. 

Remarks. — The  white  upper  tail-coverts  distinguish  this  species.     (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  in  Arctic  America;  winters  in  southern  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  during  the  migrations,  occasionally  inland. 


PIG.  91.     WHITE-RUMPED  SANDPIPER. 

The  White-rumped  Sandpiper  is  one  of  the  common  beach-birds,  usually  moving 
in  small  flocks,  and  is  found  on  fresh-water  mud-flats  as  well  as  on  the  beaches  and 
salt-water  shore-bird  haunts,  though  much  more  plentiful  on  the  latter.  Not  at  all 
exclusive,  it  is  often  found  associated  with  others  of  like  habits,  and  it  is  by  no 
means  shy.  Though  a  swift,  strong  flyer,  its  custom  when  flushed  is  to  make  but 
a  short  flight  before  again  dropping  to  the  ground,  where  it  at  once  resumes  its 
search  for  the  minute  aquatic  forms  of  animal  life  that  go  to  make  up  its  favorite 
food. 

It  has  been  taken  twice  in  spring  at  Raleigh.  Two  females  were  collected  from 
a  flock  of  about  twenty  on  Lake  Ellis  in  June  of  1910  by  H.  H.  Brimley.  In  both 
specimens  the  ovaries  showed  considerable  enlargement. 

This  sandpiper  nests  as  far  north  as  the  Arctic  Ocean  and  winters  southward 
through  South  America  to  Patagonia.  Its  migration  route  is  the  longest  known, 
the  extreme  nesting  and  wintering  localities  being  nine  thousand  miles  apart. 

110.  Pisobia  minutilla  (Vieill.').    LEAST  SANDPIPER. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts  black  or  fuscous,  edged  and  tipped  with  buffy  or  rufous;  rump 
and  middle  upper  tail-coverts  plain  black  or  fuscous;  central  tail-feathers  black  or  fuscous,  outer 
ones  ashy  gray;  upper  throat  white;  neck  and  breast  white  or  buffy,  streaked  with  fuscous;  belly 
and  sides  white.  Juv. — Similar,  but  leathers  of  the  back  with  rounded  rufous  or  buffy  tips; 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  131 


breast  not  distinctly  streaked.  Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter. — Upperparts  brownish  gray,  some- 
times with  more  or  less  black  in  the  centers  of  the  feathers;  breast  white  or  ashy,  not  dis- 
tinctly streaked.  L.,  6.00;  W.,  3.50;  Tar.,  .70;  B.,  .75. 

Remarks. — This  is  the  smallest  of  our  sandpipers,  and  can  be  confused  only  with  Ereunetes 
pusillus,  from  which,  however,  it  may  always    be  distinguished   by  the  absence  of  webs  be- 
tween the  bases  of  the  toes.     (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.} 
,    Range. — Breeds  in  Arctic  America;  winters  from  North  Carolina  to  Brazil. 
k  Range  in  North  Carolina. — Transient  throughout  the  State;  common  in  the  coastal  region 
in  migration,  and  also  to  some  extent  in  winter. 


FIG.  93. 

FIG.  92.  LEAST  SANDPIPER.  FOOT  or  LEAST 

SANDPIPER. 

This  is  probably  our  most  numerous  sandpiper.  Moving  in  compact  flocks,  both 
on  the  wing  and  when  feeding,  it  is  the  joy  of  the  pot  hunter  who  counts  his  bag 
by  numbers  slain.  Sometimes  thirty  to  forty  are  killed  at  a  single  discharge  of  a 
shotgun.  It  is  a  trim,  neat  little  inhabitant  of  the  sea-beaches  and  mud-flats,  both 
on  the  coast  and  inland.  Usually  it  is  found  associated  with  that  very  similar  bird, 
the  Semipalmated  Sandpiper. 

During  the  migrations  it  is  found,  not  infrequently,  as  far  west  as  Raleigh, 
usually  in  May.  On  the  coast  it  occurs  in  great  numbers,  and  is  often  called  "Sea 
Chicken,"  and  "Peep." 

Intermediate  in  size  between  this  species  and  the  preceding  is  Baird's  Sandpiper,  Pisobia 
bairdi  (Coues),  which  breeds  in  the  Arctic  regions,  and  winters  in  southern  South  America. 
In  the  migrations  it  is  common  in  the  central  portions  of  the  United  States,  and  occurs  also 
irregularly  on  both  coasts. 

Genus  Pelidna  (Cuv.) 
111.  Pelidna  alpina  sakhalina  (Vieill.).    RED-BACKED  SANDPIPER. 

^Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts  broadly  margined  with  rufous,  centers  of  the  feathers  black, 
wings  brownish  gray;  breast  whitish,  lightly  streaked  with  blackish;  middle  of  belly  with  a 
large  black  patch,  lower  belly  white.  Juv. — Upperparts  blackish,  the  feathers  with  rounded 
tips  of  rufous  or  buffy;  breast  washed  with  buffy  and  indistinctly  streaked  with  blackish;  belly 
spotted  with  black.  Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter. — Upperparts  brownish  gray;  middle  upper  tail- 
coverts  fuscous;  wing-coverts  brownish  gray  margined  with  buffy;  throat  white;  breast  ashy, 
indistinctly  streaked;  belly  white,  the  sides  sometimes  spotted  with  black.  L.,  8.00;  W.,  4.75: 
Tar.,  1.00;  B.,  1.50.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Remarks. — There  is,  of  course,  every  degree  of  intergradation  between  summer  and  winter 
plumage,  but  the  species  may  always  be  known  by  its  slightly  curved  bill. 

Range. — Breeds  in  Arctic  America  and  Siberia;  winters  from  New  Jersey  to  Texas  and  in 
southeastern  Asia. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  winter. 

The  Red-backed  Sandpiper  is  found  on  our  coast  throughout  the  year,  with  the 
exception  of  the  time  it  is  away  on  its  northern  nesting-grounds,  from  late  May 


132  BIRDS  OF  N"ORTH  CAROLINA 


until  September.  At  Pea  Island  it  winters  in  large  flocks  (Bishop),  and  it  prob- 
ably does  this  elsewhere  along  the  whole  of  our  coast-line.  In  the  latter  part  of 
the  spring  migration  many  may  be  seen  well  advanced  in  their  nuptial  plumage, 
the  black  breast  and  red  back  combining  to  make  a  striking  appearance.  It  is  far 
from  wild,  and  indeed  it  is  usually  much  more  easily  approached  than  most  of  the 
members  of  this  group.  We  have  no  record  of  its  occurrence  inland. 


FIG.  94.     RED-BACKED  SANDPIPEE. 

Genus  Ereunetes  (Illig.) 

Comprises  two  species  of  small  sandpipers,  resembling  the  Least  Sandpiper  in 
general  appearance,  but  having  evident  webs  between  the  front  toes  at  their  base. 
Both  species  occur  on  our  coast. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Chiefly  grayish  brown  above.     Bill  shorter  (culmen  .75  or  less  in  male,  less  than  1  inch  in 

female).     Semipalmated  Sandpiper. 
1.  Chiefly  rusty  above.     Bill  longer  (culmen  more  than  .75  in  male,  1  inch  or  more  in  female). 

Western  Sandpiper. 

112.  Ereunetes  pusillus  (Linn.}.    SEMIPALMATED  SANDPIPER. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts  black  or  fuscous,  margined  with  brownish  gray  and  a  small 
amount  of  rufous;  rump  grayish  brown;  upper  tail-coverts  blackish;  tail-feathers  brownish 
gray,  central  ones  darkest;  breast  streaked  or  spotted  with  blackish.  Juv. — Similar,  but  upper- 
parts  and  wing-coverts  blackish,  with  rounded  rufous  or  buffy  tips  to  the  feathers;  breast 
unstreaked,  tinted  with  buffy.  Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter.— Upperparts  brownish  gray,  with 
darker  shaft  streaks;  upper  tail-coverts  darker;  underparts  white,  sometimes  with  faint  streaks 
on  the  breast.  L.,  6.30;  W.,  3.75;  Tar.,  .75;  B.,  .65-.80. 

Remarks. — The  small  size  of  this  and  the  next  species  prevents  their  being  confused  with 
any  other  except  Pisobia  minutilla,  from  which  they  may  always  be  known  by  then-  partially 
webbed  toes.  (Chap.,  Birds  ofE.N.A.) 

Range. — Breeds  far  north;  winters  from  Georgia  to  Patagonia. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  during  the  migrations;  occasionally  inland. 

These  birds  are  very  numerous  on  the  coast  during  the  migrations  and  are  gen- 
erally found  in  company  with  Least  Sandpipers.  Daily  collections  of  "sea-chickens" 
for  a  week,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Southport,  during  May,  1909,  showed  a  pro- 
portion of  about  one  Semipalmated  to  ten  Least  Sandpipers,  the  two  species  being 
often  indistinguishable  until  collected.  On  the  Cape  Hatteras  beaches,  in  the 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  133 


spring  of  1898,  Pearson  found  the  flocks  about  equally  divided.    A  specimen  was 
taken  at  Raleigh  on  May  22,  1899. 

Nearly  everything  said  of  the  habits  of  the  Least  Sandpiper  applies  equally  to 
this  species  while  it  is  with  us.  May  shows  the  height  of  its  abundance  in  the 
spring,  and  from  August  to  October  in  the  fall.  Like  so  many  of  this  group,  the 
Semipalmated  breeds  far  toward  the  Arctic  Circle. 


Fia.  95.     FOOT  OF  SEMIPALMATED  SANDPIPER. 

113.  Ereunetes  mauri  (Cafe.)-    WESTERN  SANDPIPER. 

This  bird  closely  resembles  the  preceding,  from  which,  in  summer  plumage,  it  differs  in 
having  the  upperparts  conspicuously  margined  with  rufous  and  the  breast  more  heavily 
streaked.  In  fall  and  winter  plumage  the  differences  in  coloration  are  not  so  apparent,  but 
the  birds  are  to  be  distinguished  at  any  season  by  the  size  of  the  bill,  which  in  the  western 
species  is  always  longer.  W..  3.80;  Tar.,  .80;  B.,  .85-1.20.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  in  western  Arctic  America;  winters  from  North  Carolina  to  Venezuela. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  during  the  migrations  and  in  winter. 

Bishop  reports  the  Western  Sandpiper  as  common  in  winter  at  Pea  Island.  Four 
specimens  were  taken  by  Bruner  at  Beaufort,  August  28-30,  1909.  These  are  the 
available  records  of  its  occurrence  in  this  State.  Cooke  states  that  it  is  common 
in  winter  from  North  Carolina  to  Florida,  and  it  is  to  be  presumed,  therefore,  that 
the  species  may  be  found  regularly  along  our  coast  from  the  fall  to  the  spring 
migration. 

Genus  Calidris  (Illig.) 

114.  Calidris  leucophaea  (Pall}.    SANDERLING. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Feathers  of  upperparts  usually  with  black  centers  bordered  and  some- 
times barred  with  pale  rufous  and  tipped  with  ashy  white;  wings  fuscous,  basal  half  of  outer 
web  of  inner  primaries  white;  wing-coverts  grayish  fuscous,  greater  ones  broadly  tipped  with 
white;  tail  brownish  gray,  narrowly  margined  with  white;  throat  and  upper  breast  washed 
with  pale  rufous  and  spotted  with  blackish;  rest  of  the  under  parts  pure  white.  Juv. — Similar, 
but  upperparts  without  rufous,  glossy  black,  the  feathers  sometimes  bordered  with  white,  but 
generally  with  two  white  spots  at  their  tips  separated  by  the  black  of  the  central  part  of  the 
feather;  nape  grayish  white,  lightly  streaked  with  blackish;  underparts  pure  white,  with 
occasionally  a  few  spots  on  the  breast.  Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter. — Upperparts  pale  brownish 
gray,  wings  as  in  the  preceding;  underparts  pure  white.  L.,  8.00;  W.,  5.00;  Tar.,  1.00;  B.,  1.00. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 


134  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Remarks. — The  Sanderling  is  the  only  one  of  our  snipe  or  sandpipers  having  only  three 
toes,  and  it  may  always  be  known  by  this  character  in  combination  with  its  transversely 
scaled  tarsi. 

Range. — Nearly  cosmopolitan,  breeding  far  northward;  wintering  from  Virginia  to  Patagonia, 
in  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Winters  in  the  coastal  region. 

This  is  one  of  our  winter  beach-birds.  Its  noticeably  light  coloration  makes  it 
a  comparatively  easy  bird  to  identify,  particularly  in  winter  when  few  other  sand- 
pipers are  about.  It  comes  in  numbers  in  August  and  remains  common  until  May, 
leaving  perhaps  a  couple  of  months  in  midsummer  when  none  are  to  be  found. 


FIG.  96.     SANDERLING. 

A  trim  little  bird  is  this;  and  it  may  often  be  seen  running  in  close  bunches 
along  the  foam-flecked  sand  to  the  very  edge  of  the  advancing  waves.  Its  color 
harmonizes  so  well  with  the  general  tone  of  the  beach  that  it  presents  a  most  incon- 
spicuous object  when  not  in  motion.  It  is  not  at  all  rare  during  the  time  it  is 
with  us. 

We  have  no  record  of  its  occurrence  inland. 

Genus  Limosa  (Briss.) 

This  genus  comprises  large  sandpipers,  with  the  bill  slightly  recurved;  two 
species  occur  in  eastern  America,  and  both  have  been  taken  in  North  Carolina. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Tail  barred,  without  white.    L.,  16.00  to  20.00.    Marbled  Godwit. 

1.  Tail  uniform  black,  with  white  base  and  tip.    L.,  14.00  to  16.75.    Hudsonian  Godwit. 

115.  Limosa  fedoa  (Linn.}.     MARBLED  GODWIT. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts  black,  the  head  and  neck  streaked  with  buffy,  back  barred 
or  the  feathers  spotted  on  the  sides  and  sometimes  tipped  with  buffy  or  ochraceous-buff ;  inner 
web  of  outer  primaries  and  both  webs  of  inner  ones  ochraceous-buff  or  pale  buffy,  speckled  with 
black;  tail  ochraceous-buff  barred  with  black;  throat  white,  rest  of  underparts  pale  buffy,  spotted 
or  barred  with  black;  bill  curved  slightly  upward,  yellowish  at  the  base,  black  at  the  end.  Juv. — • 
Similar,  but  underparts  with  few  or  no  bars  except  on  flanks  and  under  tail-coverts.  L.,  18.00; 
W.,  8.75;  Tar.,  2.75;  B.,  4.00.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  from  North  Dakota  northward;  winters  from  Florida  to 
Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  during  the  migrations,  mainly  in  the  fall,  staying 
well  on  into  the  winter. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  135 


It  would  appear  that  the  Marbled  Godwit  is  rare  today  in  North  Carolina.  Coues 
in  his  Notes  on  the  Natural  History  of  Fort  Macon  (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Science,  Phila., 
1871,  p.  32),  says:  "Abundant  during  the  migrations,  particularly  in  the  fall. 
Possibly  some  may  breed  in  the  vicinity,  but  I  am  not  sure  of  this.  Some  appear 
in  August,  many  more  in  December,  and  they  continue  plentiful  about  the  harbor 
till  December." 

Maynard  found  it  common  at  Beaufort  and  southward,  on  November  17,  1876, 
Bishop  reports  it  at  Pea  Island,  July  11  to  August  19,  1904,  and  also  on  May  20, 
1901. 

Besides  these,  we  have  only  the  record  of  Kobbe,  which  we  quote  in  full  from 
The  Auk,  January,  1912,  page  108:  "On  September  12  (1911)  two  Marbled  God- 
wits  were  shot  by  Mr.  Whitlock  and  myself  on  Currituck.  The  female  was  smaller, 
measuring  17.00,  and  the  male  19.25.  The  absence  of  bars  on  the  underparts  indi- 
cated that  they  were  young  birds." 

116.  Limosa  haemastica  (Linn.}.    HUDSONIAN  GODWIT. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Bill  slightly  curved  upward.  Upper  tail-coverts  black  and  white;  tail  black 
at  the  end,  white  at  the  base;  above  black,  rusty  and  grayish;  below  reddish  brown,  barred  with 
blackish  and  faintly  tipped  with  white.  Juv. — Similar,  but  below  buffy  whitish,  breast  grayer. 
Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter. — Similar  to  the  young  below,  but  above  brownish  gray.  L.,  15;  W., 
8.2;  Tar.,  2.2;  B.,  3.2.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Both  Americas,  breeding  far  northward;  wintering  in  southern  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region,  apparently  during  the  fall  migration  only. 


Fia.  97.     HUDSONIAN  GODWIT. 


Our  only  record  of  this  species  is  of  one  killed  at  Pea  Island  by  J.  B.  Etheridge 
on  September  13,  1911,  and  sent  to  the  State  Museum,  where  the  skin  is  now  pre- 
served. There  is  much  reason  to  believe  that  this  is  one  of  America's  most  rapidly 
disappearing  birds.  Another  generation  may  see  its  extinction. 


136 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Genus  Totanus  (Bechst.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Length  more  than  12,  wing  over  7  inches.    Greater  Yellow-legs. 
1.  Length  less  than  llj^,  wing  under  7.     Yellow-legs. 


117.  Totanus  melanoleucus  (Gmel).    GREATER  YELLOW-LEGS. 

Ads.^in  summer.  —  Upperparts  black,  head  and  neck  streaked  and  back  spotted  or  barred  with 
white  or  ashy;  upper  tail-coverts  white,  more  or  less  barred  with  black;  tail  white  or  ashy,  barred 
with  black;  breast  heavily  spotted  with  black;  sides  barred  with  black;  middle  of  belly  white. 
Ads.  and  Juv.in  winter.  —  Similar,  but  upperparts  brownish  gray,  edged  with  whitish;  sides  of 
scapulars,  tertials,  and  wing-coverts  with  blackish  and  whitish  spots;  breast  only  lightly  streaked 
with  blackish,  and  sides  slightly  barred.  L.,  14.00;  W.,  7.70;  Tar.,  2.40;  B.,  2.20.  (Chap.,  Birds 
of  E.  N.  A.)  J 

Range.  —  Breeds  north  of  the  United  States;  winters  from  Georgia  to  Patagonia. 

Range  in  North  Carolina.  —  Common  in  the  coastal  region  during  the  periods  of  migration; 
also  during^the  spring  migration  inland,  but  not  common.  Occasional  in  winter. 


FIG.  98.     GEEATEE  YELLOW-LEGS. 


To  the  sportsman  the  Greater  Yellow-legs  or  "  Yellow-shanks  "  is  one  of  the  best 
of  the  beach-birds.  In  habits  it  is  not  strictly  maritime,  being  frequently  found 
in  abundance  around  shallow  bodies  of  fresh  water.  Long  of  leg,  it  prefers  clear 
water  to  mud,  often  seeking  its  food  in  water  nearly  up  to  the  body  line. 

It  is  a  graceful,  not  particularly  active  bird  when  on  the  ground,  and  its  wading 
habits  cause  it  to  show  slower  movements  when  feeding  than  do  the  smaller  related 
species.  It  is  on  the  wing  that  it  appears  at  its  best.  The  long,  slender  neck,  legs, 
and  bill,  the  white  underside  and  mottled  black  and  gray  upperparts,  give  it  a  trim, 
handsome  appearance,  and  the  long,  powerful  wings  drive  it  down  wind  in  a  manner 
to  call  forth  the  gunner's  greatest  skill.  The  soft,  clear  whistle  is  characteristic, 
and  imitation  of  it  from  the  shooter's  blind  will  often  bring  the  bird  within  range. 

Cairns  records  it  from  Buncombe  County  as  a  rare  transient.  At  Raleigh  it 
occurs  irregularly  from  March  22  to  May  29.  It  is  a  common  bird  of  the  coastal 
region  during  the  migrations,  reaching  its  greatest  abundance  in  May.  On  May  15, 
1911,  the  species  was  common  on  Lake  Ellis.  In  the  fall  the  southbound  birds 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


137 


begin  to  arrive  as  early  as  July  and  stay  as  late  as  October  and  November.  It 
has  been  recorded  from  Beaufort  and  Pea  Island  in  February,  and  doubtless  a 
limited  number  spend  the  winter  along  our  shores. 

118.  Totanus  flavipes  (Gmel.}.    YELLOW-LEGS. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts  generally  brownish  gray,  head  and  neck  streaked  with  black 
and  white;  back,  scapulars,  and  wing-coverts  sometimes  with  black  centers,  spotted  or  tipped 
with  whitish  or  brownish  gray;  upper  tail-coverts  white,  more  or  less  barred  with  black,  tail 
varying  from  white  to  brownish  gray,  with  numerous  black  or  blackish  cross-bars;  breast  heavily 
spotted  or  streaked,  and  sides  barred  with  black;  belly  white,  legs  yellow.  Ads.  and  Juv.  in 
winter. — Similar,  but  upperparts  brownish  gray,  the  sides  of  the  feathers  with  whitish  spots; 
tail-bars  grayish;  breast  lightly  streaked  with  ashy.  L.,  10.75;  W.,  6.40;  Tar.,  2.05;  B.,  1.40. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Remarks. — This  bird  closely  resembles  the  Greater  Yellow-legs  in  color,  but  may  always  be 
distinguished  by  its  smaller  size. 

Range. — Breeds  north  cf  the  United  States;  winters  in  southern  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  during  the  migrations,  also  less  commonly  inland 
during  the  spring  migration. 


Pia.  99.    YELLOW-LEGS. 

Almost  all  the  remarks  relating  to  the  habits  of  the  Greater  Yellow-legs  are 
applicable  to  this  species.  Generally  speaking,  it  is  simply  a  smaller  form  of  the 
foregoing,  with  which  it  is  often  found  associated.  It  is  not,  however,  known  to 
occur  with  us  in  winter. 

"A  smaller  edition  of  the  Greater  Yellow-legs,  this  bird  is  one  of  our  best  known  and  widely 
distributed  shore  birds,  occurring  throughout  North  America,  extending  generally  into  South 
America  as  far  as  Patagonia.  In  the  United  States  the  Lesser  Yellow-legs  is  a  regular  summer 
visitor  to  the  marshes  that  line  the  Atlantic  coast;  arriving  early  in  August,  they  are  among  the 
first  of  our  shore  birds  to  start  the  procession  south.  On  the  coast  the  salt-water  marshes  and 
meadows,  where  the  grass  is  short,  are  their  favorite  haunts,  and  the  clear  note  of  a  summer 
Yellow-legs  is  perhaps  the  first  welcome  sound  in  the  early  morning  heard  from  the  blind  on  the 
marsh.  Soon  the  birds  are  in  evidence,  and,  if  within  hearing  distance,  can  usually  be  called  up 
to  the  decoys;  if  permitted,  they  drop  among  the  stool  and  gaze  at  the  wooden  snipe  in  blank 
surprise.  After  the  first  shot  the  flock  often  returns,  and,  if  skillfully  whistled,  hovers  over  the 
wounded  birds.  The  readiness  with  which  they  court  destruction  has  resulted  in  their  being  driven 
from  many  of  the  old-time  resorts,  and  this  common,  friendly  bird  may  easily  become  rare.  The 
young  of  the  year  migrate  along  the  same  course  as  the  adults,  but  appear  later,  usually  about  the 
last  week  of  August.  For  a  short  time  after  the  first  long  flights  the  birds  are  in  poor  condition, 
but  they  soon  fatten  on  their  favorite  feeding-grounds,  and  the  dainty  flavor  of  the  flesh  is  highly 
esteemed.  In  the  summer  the  Lesser  Yellow-legs  pass  along  through  the  United  States,  in  the 
interior  as  well  as  along  the  coast.  The  return  flight,  however,  in  the  spring  is  made  by  the 
shortest  route  to  the  breeding-grounds,  the  birds  following  along  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  the 
larger  adjacent  water-courses,  north  into  the  fur  countries.  These  are  reached  in  June,  and  here 
they  scatter  through  the  smaller  lakes  and  rivers  of  the  Arctic  regions,  breeding  on  the  shores 
and  marshes.  The  eggs  are  laid  on  the  ground  with  hardly  the  formality  of  a  nest.  At  this 


138  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


season  the  Yellow-legs,  after  the  custom  of  many  other  of  our  shore  birds,  changes  to  a  certain 
extent  its  ordinary  habit,  often  perching  on  trees  and  bushes,  if  there  are  such  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  nest.  The  note  is  varied  and  both  sexes  become  very  noisy,  resenting  with  loud  cries  any 
approach  near  the  nest.  The  young  are  hatched  in  July  and  rapidly  attain  the  age  of  looking 
out  for  themselves,  for  by  the  end  of  the  month  the  old  birds  leave  them  and  gather  in  the  first 
migratory  flocks." — SANFORD,  BISHOP,  VAN  DYKE,  The  Water  Fowl  Family. 

Genus  Helodromas  (Kaup.) 
119.  Helodromas  solitarius  solitarius  (Wils.).    SOLITARY  SANDPIPER. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts  olive-fuscous,  with  a  slight  greenish  tinge,  head  and  neck  streaked 
and  back  spotted  with  white;  upper  tail-coverts  fuscous,  with  fine  whitish  spots  on  their  sides, 
lateral  ones  sometimes  barred;  central  pair  of  tail-feathers  fuscous,  the  others  white,  barred  with 
black;  breast  streaked,  and  sides  sometimes  barred  with  black;  belly  white;  axillars  barred  with 
black  and  white;  legs  greenish  fuscous.  Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter. — Similar,  but  upperparts  grayish 
brown;  head  and  neck  generally  unstreaked,  and  back  only  lightly  spotted  with  buffy  white; 
breast  streaked  with  brownish  gray.  L.,  8.40;  W.,  5.25;  Tar.,  1.20;  B.,  1.15.  (Chap.,  Birds  of 
E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Summers  from  Pennsylvania  northward;  winters  from  the  West  Indies  to  southern 
South  America.  Breeding  range  unknown. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  during  the  migrations;  may  summer  in  parts  of  the 
mountain  region. 


PIG.  100.     SOLITARY  SANDPIPER. 

The  Solitary  Sandpiper  is  a  bird  of  the  woodland  ponds,  lakes,  and  streams,  and 
not  partial  to  the  beaches  and  salt  marshes.  It  occurs  with  us  only  during  the 
migrations,  and,  as  its  name  implies,  is  seldom  found  in  companies.  This  and  the 
Spotted  Sandpiper  are  our  two  common  inland  sandpipers,  and  their  habits  are, 
to  a  certain  extent,  similar.  The  Solitary,  however,  shows  a  greater  partiality  to 
mud-banks  than  to  the  partly  submerged  logs  and  tiny  patches  of  sand-beach  much 
frequented  by  the  Spotted  Sandpiper. 

At  Raleigh  it  stays  as  late  as  the  latter  part  of  May,  and  the  returning  birds 
reach  here  by  the  middle  of  July.  It  is  a  common  migrant  throughout  the  State. 

This  bird  lays  its  eggs  in  the  disused  nests  of  other  birds  situated  in  trees  grow- 
ing in  swamps  in  Canada. 

Genus  Catoptrophorus  (Bonap.) 

One  species  of  this  genus  occurs  with  us,  represented  by  two  subspecies. 

KEY  TO  SUBSPECIES 

I.  Colors  darker;  bill  shorter,  usually  less  than  2.25.     Willet. 

1.  Colors  paler;  bill  longer,  usually  more  than  2.25.     Western  Willet. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  139 


120.  Catoptrophorus  semipalmatus  semipalmatus  (GmeL).    WILLET. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts  brownish  gray,  the  head  and  neck  streaked,  and  the  back  barred 
with  black,  and  sometimes  buffy,  the  centers  of  the  feathers  being  occasionally  wholly  black; 
basal  half  of  primaries  and  greater  part  of  secondaries  white;  upper  tail-coverts  white  with  a  few 
blackish  bars;  central  tail-feathers  ashy,  indistinctly  barred  with  blackish;  outer  ones  whitish, 
lightly  mottled  with  grayish;  foreneck  heavily  streaked;  breast  and  sides  heavily  barred  with  dark 
brownish  gray  and  more  or  less  washed  with  buffy;  belly  generally  white,  with  sometimes  a  few 
bars.  Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter. — Upperparts  brownish  gray,  unmarked;  tail  gray,  without  bars; 
rump  and  wings  as  in  the  adult;  breast  washed  with  grayish;  belly  white;  axillars  black.  L., 
15.00;  W.,  8.00;  Tar.,  2.30;  B.,  2.15.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  from  Virginia  southward;  winters  from  Bahamas  to  Peru. 

Range  in  North  Carolina.— Coastal  region  in  summer,  breeding. 

One  of  the  few  species  of  the  sandpiper  group  which  spend  the  summer  with 
us.  We  have  never  seen  it  on  fresh-water  marshes,  although  it  is  said  at  times  to 
frequent  them.  A  few  years  ago  it  was  abundant  in  summer  on  the  North  River 
marshes,  near  Beaufort,  and  quite  common  in  Core  Sound  during  the  early  fall. 
Owing  to  the  destruction  of  both  birds  and  eggs  during  the  breeding  season,  it  has 
become  much  scarcer  during  the  past  few  years,  and  will  soon  become  one  of  the 
rarer  of  the  shore-birds  unless  better  protective  measures  are^adopted. 


WILLET. 


Wet  salt-marshes  and  mud-flats  are  its  favorite  haunts,  particularly  the  former. 
The  nest  is  usually  placed  on  the  dry  salt-marsh  and  is  built  of  the  grasses  found 
near  by.  It  is  also  found  nesting  among  the  sand  dunes.  The  eggs  are  four  in 
number,  and  May  is  the  principal  nesting  month.  The  eggs  were  formerly 
gathered  by  the  coast-dwellers  and  used  as  an  article  of  diet.  Pearson  found 
their  nests  in  Carteret  and  Brunswick  counties  in  May  and  June,  1898,  and  in 
Onslow  and  New  Hanover  counties  in  May,  1903. 

121.  Catoptrophorus  semipalmatus  inornatus  (Brewst.}.  WESTERN  WIL- 
LET. 

Slightly  larger  than  the  preceding,  and,  in  summer  plumage,  upperparts  paler  and  less  heavily 
marked  with  black;  breast  less  heavily  streaked  and  more  suffused  with  buffy,  middle  tail-feathers 
without  black  bars.  In  winter  plumage  the  two  forms  can  be  distinguished  only  by  the  slight 
and  inconstant  character  of  size.  W.,  8.50;  Tar.,  2.50;  B.,  2.40.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Western  United  States  and  Canada,  wintering  from  Florida  to  Mexico. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Fall  migrant  on  Pea  Island. 


140  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Bishop  reports  that  this  subspecies  was  a  common  migrant  at  Pea  Island,  Dare 
County,  from  July  12  to  August  10,  1904.  It  doubtless  occurs  regularly  on  our 
coast. 

Genus  Machetes  (Cuv.) 

122.  Machetes  pugnax  (Linn.}.    RUFF. 

Ad.  cf  in  summer. — Very  variable;  above  and  below  black  with  purplish  reflections;  or  rusty 
barred  with  purplish,  etc.;  feathers  of  breast  much  lengthened  to  form  a  shield  of  rusty,  black,  or 
black-and-white  feathers;  two  variously  colored  tufts  on  the  hind-neck.  Ad.  cf  in  winter. — Above 
grayish  brown;  below  white;  throat  and  breast  grayish;  end  of  tail  with  remains  of  blackish  bars; 
ruff  absent.  Ad.  9  • — Head,  neck  and  underparts  as  in  winter  male;  back  black,  margined  with 
grayish  brown;  inner  wing-feathers  barred  with  black  and  grayish  brown.  L.,  12.50;  W.,  7.00; 
Tar.,  1.70;  B.,  1.50.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  Hemisphere,  straggling  now  and  then  to  the  American  coast. 

Range  in_North  Carolina. — Once  taken  at  Raleigh. 


FIG.  102.     RUFF.      (Female    or    Immature    Male.) 

One  female  of  this  European  species  was  taken  on  Walnut  Creek,  near  Raleigh, 
by  H.  H.  Brimley,  on  May  6,  1892.  It  was,  of  course,  an  isolated  straggler,  and 
a  similar  capture  is^not  very  likely  to  occur  in  the  future. 

Genus  Bartramia  (Less.) 

123.  Bartramia  longicauda  (Bechst.}.  UPLAND  PLOVER:  BARTRAMIAN  SAND- 
PIPER. 

Ads. — Head  and  neck  streaked  with  black  and  ochraceous-buff ;  back  and  wing-coverts  ochra- 
ceous-buff, barred  with  black;  tertials  olive,  barred  with  black  and  margined  with  ochraceous- 
buff;  primaries  fuscous,  the  outer  one  barred  with  white;  inner  tail-feathers  brownish  gray,  outer 
ones  varying  from  ochraceous-buff  to  white,  all  more  or  less  barred  with  black;  breast  and  sides 
washed  with  buffy  and  streaked  or  barred  with  black;  belly  white  or  whitish.  Juv. — Similar, 
but  the  ochraceous-buff  is  deeper.  L.,  11.50;  W.,  6.50;  Tar.,  1.90;  B.,  1.15. 

Remarks.— The  white  bars  on  the  outer  primary  will  always  serve  to  identify  this  species. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  from  northern  Virginia  northward;  winters  in  southern  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Inland  portions  of  the  State  during  the  migrations;  neither  common 
nor  regular  in  its  occurrence. 

The  Upland  Plover  or  Bartramian  Sandpiper  is  a  bird  of  the  central  States, 
rather  than  of  the  Atlantic  slope.  It  occurs,  however,  more  or  less  regularly 
through  central  North  Carolina,  and  may  be  regarded  as  an  irregular  spring 
migrant.  The  dry,  rolling  upland  constitutes  its  favorite  haunts  with  us,  and  the 
species  may  be  looked  for  generally  in  April.  Its  brownish  coloration  makes  it  a 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  141 


very  inconspicuous  bird  on  the  ground,  and  it  is  too  shy  to  be  approached  on  foot 
with  any  degree  of  success.  The  birds  are  at  times  so  fat  that  the  skin  of  the 
breast  will  burst  when  falling  to  earth  before  the  gun.  # 

The  notes  of  the  bird  are  very  penetrating  and  far-reaching,  and  it  is  much 
oftener  heard  than  seen.  The  negroes  give  the  names  of  "Wild  Mare  "  and  "  Flying 
Colt"  to  this  bird,  from  the  fancied  "whinnying"  notes  that  may  be  clearly  heard 
falling  from  aloft,  often  with  no  bird  in  view.  It  is  regarded  with  some  degree 
of  superstition  on  this  account. 


Fia.  103.     UPLAND  PLOVER. 

Pearson  found  no  less  than  six  Upland  Plovers  scattered  through  the  open  pine 
woods  of  Brunswick  County  in  June,  1898.  This,  together  with  one  record  from 
Buncombe  County,  one  from  Guilford  College  (1893),  and  several  from  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Raleigh,  are  all  the  definite  records  we  have  of  its  occurrence  in  the 
State.  It  may  possibly  be  found  to  breed  sparingly. 

"Upland  Plover  are  no  longer  found  abundant  anywhere  excepting  in  the  West  and  South. 
"They  have  vanished  entirely  from  many  of  the  Eastern  fields,  but  are  still  fairly  abundant 
in  Illinois,  the  Dakotas,  and  Indian  Territory.  Mr.  Hough  says  this  bird  fairly  swarms  at  times 
on  the  lower  table-lands  of  Utah  and  Colorado  and  overruns  Kansas  and  Nebraska  in  large  flocks; 
but  they  do  not  decoy  regularly  enough  to  warrant  the  use  of  decoys,  and  the  shooter  need  not 
waste  time  in  putting  out  a  flock.  In  a  few  instances  he  shot  them  over  decoys  made  of  dead 
birds,  but  could  hardly  say  that  they  drew  in  to  the  flock,  nor  is  it  certain  that  they  will  pay  more 
than  the  slightest  attention  to  an  imitation  of  their  whistle.  They  are  especially  fond  of  ground 
that  has  recently  been  burnt  over. 

"Before  becoming  familiar  with  the  gun,  these  birds,  like  all  others,  are  quite  tame.  Coues 
says  he  found  them  so  tame  in  Kansas  that  they  were  destroyed  without  the  slightest  artifice,  and 
that  he  had  seen  them  just  escape  being  caught  with  the  crack  of  a  coach-whip.  Van  Dyke,  in  a 
magazine  article,  has  given  us  an  interesting  account  of  shooting  these  birds  in  standing  corn.  He 
killed  seventeen  birds  in  one  field,  many  of  the  shots  being  within  twenty-five  feet,  and  made  one 
double  shot.  This  is  the  only  instance  I  know  of  where  the  birds  have  been  walked  up  and  shot  at 
close  range.  I  should  have  been  tempted  to  buy  the  field.  I  doubt  if  they  are  to  be  found  any- 
where today  as  tame  as  described  by  Coues.  They  learn  quickly  that  man  is  their  enemy,  and  the 
fear  becomes,  I  believe,  a  matter  of  instinctive  heredity."  Huntington's  Our  Feathered  Game. 

Genus  Tryngites  (Cab.) 
124.  Tryngites  subruficollis  (VieilL).    BUFF-BREASTED  SANDPIPER. 

Description. — Upper  parts  dull  grayish  buff  or  brownish,  varied  with  blackish;  underparts  buff, 
streaked  or  speckled  on  chest  with  dusky;  under  primary  coverts  and  inner  webs  of  quills  beauti- 
fully mottled  with  dusky  on  a  whitish  ground.  L.,  7.00  to  9.00;  W.,  5.00  to  5.50. 


142  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Range. — North  America,  mainly  in  the  interior,  breeding  far  northward,  south  in  winter  to 
southern  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  taken  on  Currituck  beach  in  the  fall. 

This  species  finds  a  place  in  our  list  on  the  authority  of  F.  W.  Kobbe,  of  New 
York  City,  who,  in  The  Auk  for  January,  1912,  page  108,  records  the  capture  of 
three  specimens  by  Whitlock,  on  September  12,  1911.  Kobbe  himself  saw  a  flock 
of  six,  two  days  later.  He  says  the  species  appeared  to  be  unknown  to  the  local 
gunners. 

"This  is  a  rare  species  on  the  Atlantic  Coast.  Dr.  Hatch  writes  of  it  as  observed  by  him  in 
Minnesota:  'They  are  an  extremely  active  species  when  on  the  wing,  and  essentially  ploverine  in 
all  respects,  seeking  sandy,  barren  prairies,  where  they  live  upon  grasshoppers,  crickets,  and 
insects  generally,  and  ants  and  their  eggs  specially.  I  have  found  them  repasting  upon  minute 
mollusks  on  the  sandy  shores  of  small  and  shallow  ponds,  where  they  were  apparently  little  more 
suspicious  than  the  Solitary  Sandpipers  are  notably.  The  flight  is  in  rather  compact  form,  dipping 
and  rising  alternately,  and  with  a  disposition  to  return  again  to  the  neighborhood  of  their  former 
feeding-places.'  " — Chapman's  Birds  of  Eastern  North  America. 

Genus  Actitis  (Illig.) 
125.  Actitis  macularia  (Linn.}.    SPOTTED  SANDPIPER. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts  brownish  gray  with  a  faint  greenish  luster,  head  and  neck  more 
or  less  streaked,  and  back  barred  or  spotted  with  black;  inner  tail-feathers  like  back,  outer  ones 
white  with  blackish  bars;  underparts  white;  everywhere  spotted  with  black.  Juv. — -Upperparts 
brownish  gray,  with  a  greenish  tinge,  back  faintly  and  wing-coverts  conspicuously  barred  with 
black  and  buffy;  underparts  pure  white,  unspotted,  but  slightly  washed  with  grayish  on  breast. 
Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter. — Similar,  but  back  without  bars.  L.,  7.50;  W.,  4.20;  Tar.,  90;  B.,  .95. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Both  Americas,  breeding  from  South  Carolina  to  Alaska,  and  wintering  from  South 
Carolina  to  Brazil. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State,  common  during  migrations,  and  occurring  also  in 
summer,  though  less  commonly. 


FIG.  104.     SPOTTED  SANDPIPER. 


This  is  our  most  common  inland  sandpiper.  It  is  found  wherever  conditions 
are  suitable.  Around  mud-puddles,  small  branches,  creeks,  lakes,  ponds,  rivers — 
anywhere  and  everywhere  that  a  little  water  accumulates  and  a  log  or  patch  of  mud 
or  gravel  gives  it  a  resting  and  feeding  place,  this  species  may  be  found.  One  may 
travel  along  the  course  of  almost  any  stream  or  lake  shore  in  the  State  and  seldom 
be  out  of  sight  of  one  or  more  of  these  birds  during  the  spring  and  fall  migrations. 
It  is  in  fact  the  most  widely  distributed  and  characteristic  bird  of  our  water-courses. 
It  is  a  summer  resident  to  some  extent,  and  possibly  nests  with  us,  though  we  have 
no  record  of  its  eggs  having  been  taken  in  North  Carolina. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


143 


It  seems  to  be  most  common  in  May,  and  it  occurs  from  Cape  Hatteras  to  the 
Blue  Ridge  Mountains  and  beyond.  The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground.  It  is  simply 
a  depression  in  the  soil,  lined  sometimes  with  grass  or  moss,  and  is  situated  usually 
near  water.  The  eggs  commonly  number  four;  have  a  creamy,  buff,  or  clay-colored 
ground,  blotched,  spotted,  and  dotted  with  blackish  brown;  and  measure  about 
1.34  x  .92. 

Genus  Numenius  (Briss.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Secondaries,   quills,  etc.,  rusty  cinnamon.     L.,  20.00  or  more.     Long-billed  Curlew. 
1.  Secondaries,  quills,  etc.,  dull  brownish.     L.,   16.00  to  18.00.     Hudsonian  Curlew. 

A  third  species,  the  Eskimo  Curlew.  Numenius  borealis  (J.  R.  Forst);  doubtless  formerly 
occurred.  It  is  a  still  smaller  bird  than  the  Hudsonian  Curlew  (L.,  12.50  to  14.50),  and  further 
differs  from  it  in  having  no  paler  median  stripe  on  the  crown.  It  is  now  considered  to  be  nearly 
or  quite  extinct. 

126.  Numenius  americanus  (Wils.).    LONG-BILLED  CURLEW. 

Ads. — Head  and  neck  streaked,  and  back  barred  with  buffy  and  black;  wing-coverts,  inner 
webs  of  primaries,  secondaries,  and  tail  varying  from  buffy  to  pale  rufous,  barred  or  mottled  with 
blackish;  underparts  ochraceous-buff,  breast  more  or  less  streaked  and  sides  sometimes  barred 
with  black;  axillars  rufous,  generally  unbarred.  L.,  24.00;  W.,  10.50;  Tar.,  3.10;  B.,  6.00.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  now  only  a  straggler  east  of  the  Mississippi;  winters  from  South 
Carolina  to  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Not  well  known. 


FIG.  105.     LONG-BILLED  CUELEW. 


Formerly  abundant  on  our  coasts  (Coues,  1871),  its  status  with  us  today  is  hard 
to  define,  except  that  it  is  a  very  rare  bird,  if  found  at  all  within  our  borders.  We 
know  of  no  later  unquestioned  record  than  that  of  a  specimen  killed  on  Shackle- 
ford  Banks,  near  Beaufort,  in  1885,  by  "Tobe"  Lane  of  New  Bern. 


144  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


It  is  a  bird  of  striking  appearance  and  large  size,  but  owing  to  excessive  shoot- 
ing it  is  now  virtually  extinct  on  the  Atlantic  Coast.  Coues  states  that  it  was  a 
resident  near  Beaufort  in  1871. 

127.  Numenius  hudsonicus  (Lath.}.    HUDSONIAN  CURLEW. 

Ads. — Upperparts  grayish  brown,  the  sides  of  the  feathers  with  buff  or  whitish  spots;  rump 
and  tail  barred  with  buffy  and  blackish;  inner  web  of  outer  primaries  and  both  webs  of  inner  ones 
barred  with  buffy  or  whitish  and  black;  underparts  buffy  or  whitish;  neck  and  breast  streaked  and 
sides  and  under  wing-coverts  barred  with  black.  L.,  17.00;  W.,  9.50;  Tar.,  2.20;  B.,  3.75. 

Remarks. — Young  birds  often  have  the  bill  as  short  as  in  borealis  from  which,  however,  they 
may  always  be  distinguished  by  their  barred  primaries.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Both  Americas,  breeding  far  northerly,  and  wintering  from  northern  Mexico  to  south- 
ern Chile. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  during  the  migrations. 

The  Hudsonian  Curlew  is  our  second  largest  shore-bird,  now  that  the  preceding 
species  is  no  longer  with  us.  Its  flight  is  strong  and  regular,  not  unlike  that  of 
some  ducks,  and  it  is  wild  enough  to  make  the  gunner  experience  some  thrills  of 
satisfaction  when  he  draws  a  specimen  or  two  from  his  game  bag  at  the  close  of  a 
day's  beach  shooting.  In  flight  the  neck  is  folded  back,  and  the  appearance  of  the 
bird  on  the  wing  is  generally  that  of  compact  strength  and  size,  the  long,  curving 
bill  identifying  it  as  a  Curlew  without  fail. 

Bishop  reports  it  from  Pea  Island  as  a  rather  rare  migrant.  Pearson  and  H.  H. 
Brimley  observed  this  species  on  the  mud-flats  and  marshes  near  Southport  in 
August  of  1909.  May  7-11,  1910,  we  found  fifteen  to  twenty  daily  on  the  salt 
marshes  between  Cape  Fear  and  Lockwood's  Folly.  On  April  29,  1911,  a  flock  of 
between  twenty  and  thirty  was  seen  flying  over  Orton  Pond  (Brunswick  County), 
heading  towards  the  coast  west  of  Southport.  Both  Pearson  and  H.  H.  Brimley 
have  found  the  bird  more  or  less  common  on  the  North  River  marshes  in  Carteret 
County,  and  at  Wrightsville  Sound  near  Wilmington.  A  pair  was  seen  flying 
south  over  New  River  Inlet  by  H.  H.  Brimley  on  August  4,  1918. 

21.    FAMILY  CHARADRIID>£.      PLOVERS 

The  plovers  are  shore-birds  with  larger  and  rounder  heads  than  the  snipe  and 
sandpipers.  The  bill  also  is  usually  shorter  than  in  those  birds,  and  is  shaped 
somewhat  like  that  of  a  pigeon.  The  wings  are  very  long  and  pointed,  and  the  hind 
toe  is  usually  absent,  just  the  reverse  of  the  case  in  the  preceding  family,  in  which 
a  hind  toe  is  usually  present. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Plumage  of  upperparts  speckled.     See  2. 

1.  Plumage  of  upperparts  not  speckled.    Neck  with  dark  rings.     See  3. 

2.  Hind  toe  present,  but  very  small.     Squatarola. 

2.  Hind  toe  wholly  absent.     Charadrius. 

3.  Tail  one-half  or  more  length  of  wing,  rump  orange  brown,  unlike  back,  breast  with  two  black 

rings.     Oxyechus. 

3.  Tail  not  one-half  length  of  wing,  rump  same  color  as  back,  breast  with  not  more  than  one 

black  band.     See  4. 

4.  Bill  as  long  as  middle  toe  with  claw.     Ochthodromus. 
4.  Bill  shorter  than  middle  toe  with  claw.     Mgialiiis. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  145 


Genus  Squatarola  (Cuv.) 
128.  Squatarola  squatarola  (Linn.}.    BLACK-BELLIED  PLOVER. 

Ads.  in  summer. — Upperparts  black,  bordered  with  white;  tail  white,  barred  with  black;  basal 
half  of  inner  web  of  primaries  white;  sides  of  head  and  neck  and  entire  underparts,  except  white 
lower  belly  and  under  tail-coverts,  black.  Juv. — Upperparts  black,  head  and  neck  streaked, 
back  spotted  with  whitish  or  buffy  yellow;  tail  and  wings  as  in  adult;  underparts  white,  breast 
and  sides  streaked  with  brownish  gray.  Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter. — Similar  to  the  preceding,  but 
upperparts  brownish  gray,  lightly  margined  with  whitish.  L.,  11.00;  W.,  7.50;  Tar.,  1.90;  B., 

Remarks. — The  rounded  scales  on  the  front  of  the  tarsus  and  the  presence  of  a  fourth,  although 
very  small,  toe  distinguish  this  bird.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.} 

Range. — Nearly  cosmopolitan.  Breeds  in  the  Arctic  regions  and  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  of 
America;  winters  from  North  Carolina  to  Brazil. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  from  late  July  to  the  end  of  May. 


FIG.  107. 

FIG.   106.     BLACK-BELLIED  PLOVEK.  FOOT  OF  BLACK-BELLIED 

PLOVER. 

This  fine  bird  is  found  along  our  coast  throughout  the  year,  except  possibly  from 
about  the  end  of  May  to  the  latter  part  of  July.  A  few  immature  birds  probably 
pass  the  summer  on  the  coast.  It  is,  however,  most  plentiful  during  the  migrations. 

The  Black-bellied  Plover  is  an  alert,  shy  bird,  and  does  not  decoy  with  as  much 
unconcern  as  do  many  other  beach-birds.  Its  large  size  and  swift  flight  make  it 
a  favorite  among  gunners. 

With  us  it  is  a  bird  of  the  tide-flats  and  beaches,  and  not  found  inland.  Usually 
congregated  in  small  bunches,  it  follows  the  receding  tide  to  feast  on  small  marine 
life.  In  moving  from  place  to  place  the  flocks  are  often  compact,  or  in  lines,  and 
the  flight  is  strong  and  regular. 

Genus  Charadrius  (Linn.) 
129.  Charadrius  dominicus  dominicus  (Mull).    GOLDEN  PLOVER. 

Ads.  in  summer, — Upperparts  black,  spotted  and  margined  with  golden  yellow;  tail  brownish 
gray,  indistinctly  barred;  forehead,  sides  of  head,  neck,  and  breast  white;  rest  of  the  underparts, 
including  cheeks,  black;  under  wing-coverts  ashy.  Juv. — Upperparts  and  tail  fuscous,  spotted  or 
barred  with  whitish  or  yellow;  underparts  whitish,  more  or  less  streaked  or  barred  with  brownish 
gray.  Ads.  and  Juv.  in  winter. — Similar,  but  less  streaked  below  and  less  spotted  above.  L.. 
10.50;  W.,  7.00;  Tar.,  1.60;  B.,  .90. 

10 


146 


BIRDS  OF  ISToRTH  CAROLINA 


Remarks. — Immature  birds  are  sometimes  confused  with  those  of  the  Black-bellied  Plover, 
but,  aside  from  differences  of  size  and  color,  the  absence  of  the  fourth  toe  in  the  present  species 
will  always  distinguish  it.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  in  the  Arctic  regions;  winters  in  southern  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Rare  migrant,  chiefly  in  fall. 


FIG.  108.     GOLDEN  PLOVER. 


FIG.  109.     FOOT  OF 
GOLDEN  PLOVER. 


A  very  rare  bird  with  us.  In  1871  Coues  reported  it  as  a  common  migrant  in 
October,  at  Fort  Macon.  Cairns  recorded  it  as  a  rare  migrant  in  Buncombe  County 
fifteen  years  ago,  and  one  was  taken  at  Raleigh,  by  W.  S.  Primrose,  in  1884. 

McAtee  took  specimens  on  September  7  and  23,  1909,  and  on  April  18  and  August 
30,  1910,  on  Currituck  beach,  opposite  Church's  Island. 

"Most  birds  appear  to  return  to  their  summer  homes  over  much  the  same  route  by  which 
they  left  them.  There  are,  however,  a  few  marked  exceptions  to  this  rule.  Among  our  land-birds, 
the  Connecticut  Warbler  enters  the  United  States  through  Florida  and  journeys  thence  northwest- 
ward along  the  Alleghanies,  and  west  to  Missouri,  to  the  Upper  Mississippi  Valley  and  Manitoba. 
At  this  season  it  is  unknown  on  the  Atlantic  coast  north  of  Florida,  but  during  its  return  migra- 
tion, in  September  and  October,  it  is  often  not  uncommon  from  Massachusetts  southward,  and, 
at  this  season,  is  rare  or  unknown  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  south  of  Chicago.  (See  Cooke,  '04.) 

"Among  our  water-birds,  cases  of  this  kind  are  more  frequent.  The  fall  migration  often  brings 
to  the  Atlantic  Coast  species  which  are  rarely  if  ever  seen  there  in  the  spring.  The  Black  Tern, 
for  example,  occurs  near  New  York  City  in  numbers,  from  August  to  October,  but  is  not  found 
there  in  the  spring. 

"The  Golden  Plover,  as  has  been  shown  by  Cooke  ('93),  after  breeding  in  June  on  the  shores 
of  the  Arctic  Ocean,  in  August  migrates  southeastward  to  Labrador,  where  it  feeds  on  the  crow- 
berry  (Empetrum),  laying  on  a  supply  of  fat  as  fuel  for  the  remarkable  voyage  which  follows. 
From  Labrador  the  birds  fly  south  to  Nova  Scotia  and  thence  lay  their  course  for  northern  South 
America  in  a  direct  line  across  the  Atlantic. 

"Under  favorable  conditions  they  may  pass  the  Bermudas  without  stopping,  but  should  they 
encounter  storms  they  rest  in  these  islands  and  are  also  driven  to  our  coast.  Their  first  stop 
may  be  made  in  the  Lesser  Antilles,  through  or  over  which  they  proceed  to  South  America,  en 
route  to  their  winter  quarters  in  southwestern  Brazil  and  the  La  Plata  region. 

"In  returning  to  their  Arctic  home  these  Plover  pass  northward  through  Central  America  and 
the  Mississippi  Valley,  the  main  line  of  then-  fall  and  spring  routes,  therefore,  being  separated  by 
as  much  as  1,500  miles. 

"The  explanations  advanced  to  account  for  the  gradual  development  of  migration  routes,  over 
which  birds  in  the  fall  retrace  the  path  followed  in  the  spring,  are  inadequate  to  account  for  the 
origin  of  these  phenomenal  journeys,  on  which  the  pioneer  voyagers  must  apparently  have  em- 
barked unguided  by  either  inherited  or  acquired  experience.  Nor  do  we  understand  how  birds 
have  learned  to  cross  regularly  over  bodies  of  water,  hundreds  or  even  thousands  of  miles  in 
width. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  147 


"European  birds  cross  the  Mediterranean,  to  and  from  Africa,  at  a  point  where  soundings 
indicate  that  a  much  closer  land  relation  formerly  existed;  but  the  400-mile  flight  from  Jamaica 
to  northern  South  America,  the  600-mile  flight  from  the  nearest  land  to  the  Bermudas,  or  the 
journey  regularly  made  by  the  Turnstone  and  Golden  Plover  to  Hawaii,  2,000  miles  from  the 
nearest  land,  are  evidently  not  to  be  explained  in  this  way."  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Genus  Oxyechus  (Reichenb.) 
130.  Oxyechus  vociferus  vociferus  (Linn.).    KILLDEER. 

Ads. — Forehead,  a  spot  behind  the  eye,  throat,  and  a  ring  around  neck,  a  band  on  breast, 
lower  breast,  and  belly  white;  front  of  crown,  lores,  a  ring  around  neck,  and  a  band  on  breast 
black;  crown  and  back  grayish-brown  tipped  with  rufous;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  rufous; 
inner  tail-feathers  erayish-brown,  outer  ones  becoming  rufous  and  white,  all  tipped  with  black 
and  white.  L.,  10.50;  W.,  6.50;  Tar.,  1.35;  B.,  .75.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  from  Mexico  to  Canada;  winters  from  New  Jersey  to  Peru. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State,  occurring  more  or  less  at  all  seasons,  but  most  abundant 
during  the  migrations. 


FIG.  110.     KILLDEER. 

The  Killdeer  is  found  throughout  the  State  except,  perhaps,  in  the  higher  moun- 
tains. It  frequents  the  uplands,  as  well  as  the  lake  shores.  In  the  central  part  of 
the  State,  although  breeding  commonly,  it  is  more  plentiful  during  the  migrations. 
They  are  active  and  noisy  birds,  and  if  any  are  in  the  neighborhood  one  usually 
knows  of  it.  They  may  often  be  heard  calling  at  night  as  they  fly  about  the  fields. 
On  the  ground  they  are  usually  "restless  and  run  swiftly  on  the  approach  of  danger. 
Except  in  the  mating  season  the  bird  is  more  often  found  in  flocks,  the  bunches 
usually  having  a  much  more  compact  formation  in  flight  than  when  feeding. 

The  eggs  are  large  for  the  size  of  the  bird,  pointed,  and  usually  four  in  number. 
In  the  nest  they  lie  with  their  points  together  in  the  center.  They  are  deposited 
in  April,  May,  and  June.  The  nest  is  a  very  slight  affair,  not  much  more  than  a 
shallow  hollow,  often  scratched  among  the  cotton  rows,  or  in  pebbly  ground  in  the 
neighborhood  of  millponds.  Its  plaintive  cry  of  kil-dee,  kil-dee,  which  may  be 
heard  in  all  parts  of  the  State,  is  a  well-known  sound  to  every  North  Carolina  farm 
boy. 

Genus  .ffigialitis  (Boie) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Black  bands  broad.     Toes  distinctly  webbed  at  base.     Semipalmated  Plover. 
1.  Black  bands  narrow  and  pale,  that  on  breast  interrupted.    No  web  between  inner  and  middle 
toe.     Piping  Plover. 


150  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 

Before  incubation  the  bird  has  a  habit  of  standing  alongside  its  nest  and  shading, 
with  its  body,  the  eggs  from  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun.  The  eggs  are  two  to  four 
in  number,  measuring  about  1.00  x  1.45.  They  are  spotted  with  black  on  a  drab 
ground-color.  Pearson  has  found  their  nests  on  the  sea-beaches  in  Carteret  County 
(Cape  Lookout),  Onslow  County  (Stump  Sound)  and  New  Hanover  County  (Corn- 
cake  Inlet). 

22.    FAMILY  APHRIZID>E.     SURF-BIRDS  AND  TURNSTONES 

A  small  family,  including  birds  allied  to  the  plovers,  but  with  the  feet  four-toed 
and  the  tarsus  scutellate  in  front.  A  single  genus  and  species  occurs  with  us. 

Genus  Arenaria  (Briss.) 
134.  Arenaria  interpres  morinella  (Linn.}.    RUDDY  TURNSTONE. 

Description. — Varied  with  black,  white,  and  chestnut  above;  lower  parts  mainly  white,  the 
chest  deep  black  in  adult,  but  only  mottled  with  dusky  in  immature  birds.  L.,  9.00  to  10.00; 
W.,  5.50  to  6.00. 

Range. — Both  Americas,  breeding  in  the  Arctic  regions,  and  wintering  from  South  Carolina 
to  Brazil. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  during  the  migrations,  at  least  from  late  March  to. 
early  June,  and  from  mid-August  nearly  to  winter. 


FIG.  114.     RUDDY  TURNSTONE. 

The  Turnstone  is  perhaps  the  most  handsomely  marked  of  all  our  shore-birds. 
Strictly  coastwise  in  its  habits,  its  brilliant  and  striking  coloration,  its  well  propor- 
tioned and  robust  outline,  and  its  strong,  rapid  flight,  all  go  to  make  it  a  bird  which 
once  seen  will  ever  be  remembered.  Not  often  congregating  in  large  flocks,  the 
small  bunches  in  which  it  usually  travels  may  be  found  everywhere  along  the  open 
beaches  during  the  migrations.  It  mingles  freely  with  other  species  of  like  habits, 
following  the  receding  tide  out  on  the  mud-flats  and  oyster  rocks  in  search  of  its 
favorite  food.  It  is  a  quick  and  graceful  flyer  and  comes  very  well  to  decoys, 
although  usually  a  much  shyer  bird  to  approach  in  the  open  than  are  many  other 
birds  of  the  beaches.  Turnstones  usually  leave  for  the  North  in  May;  yet  indi- 
viduals may  be  found  nearly,  if  not  quite,  every  month  in  the  year. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  151 


23.    FAMILY  H>EMATOPODID>qE.     OYSTER-CATCHERS 

Genus  Hsematopus  (Linn.) 
135.  Hsematopus  palliatus  (Temm.).    OYSTER-CATCHER. 

Ad. — Head,  neck,  and  upper  breast  glossy  black,  back  and  wing-coverts  olive-brown,  seconda- 
ries white,  primaries  fuscous,  upper  tail-coverts  white,  base  of  tail  white,  end  fuscous,  lower 
breast  and  belly  white.  Im. — Similar,  but  head  and  neck  blackish  and  upperparts  more  or  less 
margined  with  buffy.  L.,  19.00;  W.,  10.50;  Tar.,  2.40;  B.,  3.40.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Both  Americas,  breeding  from  Virginia  to  Chile  and  Brazil. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region,  resident. 

This  fine  bird  is  most  striking  in  appearance  and  exceedingly  conspicuous. 
Broadly  marked  in  solid  brown-blacks  and  whites,  with  a  large,  brilliant  vermilion- 
colored  bill,  red  eyelids,  and  large  yellow  eye,  there  is  no  possibility  of  ever  mis- 
taking it  for  anything  but  what  it  is — the  feathered  king  of  the  shell-strewn  sand- 
beaches. 

The  flight  of  the  Oyster-catcher  is  strong  and  regular,  and  by  no  means  slow. 
But,  for  a  bird,  its  long  suit  is  running!  If  you  have  ever  tried  to  run  down  a 
young  one  which  has  not  quite  reached  the  flying  stage,  and  this  happens  to  be  on 
a  hot  August  day,  with  the  sun  shining  clear  on  the  red-hot  sand  and  no  breeze 
stirring,  then  you  can  appreciate  this  bird's  power  of  leg. 

The  open  beaches  are  where  these  birds  make  their  nests,  and  April  and  May  are 
the  usual  nesting  months.  Pearson  and  Brimley  have  found  their  eggs  and  young  on 
Royal  Shoal  Island  in  Pamlico  Sound,  at  Cape  Lookout  in  Carteret  County,  on 
the  beach  near  Ocracoke,  and  at  Lockwood's  Folly  in  Brunswick  County.  They 
seem  to  stay  on  our  coast  the  whole  year,  though  less  common  in  winter,  particu- 
larly toward  the  northern  border  of  the  State. 

The  flat,  screw-driver-pointed  bill  is  an  admirable  tool  for  opening,  not  oysters, 
but  the  smaller  and  weaker  shelled  bivalves  on  which  it  feeds.  At  low  tide  the  bird 
is  frequently  seen  feeding  on  the  exposed  mud-flats  and  oyster  rocks. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Southport  it  is  not  at  all  uncommon,  usually  being  seen 
in  pairs.  Occasionally,  however,  ten  or  a  dozen  may  be  in  sight  at  one  time,  in 
places  where  food  is  abundant.  Pearson  and  H.  H.  Brimley  counted  thirty-two  on 
a  small  mud-flat  opposite  Southport  in  August,  1909. 

Some  writers  state  that  the  bill  is  often  bent  side  wise  at  the  tip,  as  if  from  using 
it  as  an  "opener,"  chiefly  in  one  direction.  This  feature  we  have  not  noticed. 
We  have,  however,  seen  one  specimen  with  the  upper  mandible  about  one  inch 
shorter  than  the  lower,  which  might  indicate  either  a  break  or  excessive  wear. 
The  Oyster-catcher  goes  by  the  name  of  "Clam-bird"  on  our  coast. 

The  eggs  of  the  Oyster-catcher  are  creamy  or  white,  spotted  and  blotched  irregu- 
larly with  different  shades  of  brown,  and  are  rather  oval  in  shape.  Average  size 
2.20  x  1.56.  Two  is  the  usual  number  deposited. 


152  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


X.  ORDER  GALLINJE.     GALLINACEOUS  BIRDS 

Large  or  medium  sized  land-birds,  formerly  grouped  as  "  scratchers."  They  com- 
prehend such  familiar  forms  as  chickens,  turkeys,  partridges,  and  quails.  Our  few 
species  fall  into  four  families,  each  represented  by  a  single  genus  and  species. 

KEY  TO  FAMILIES 

1.  Size  very  large;  head  naked.     Meleagridce,  Turkeys. 

1.  Size  smaller.     Head  feathered.     See  2. 

2.  Tail  longer  than  wings.    Phasianidce,  Pheasants. 

2.  Tail  shorter  than  wings.     See  3. 

3.  Tarsus  more  or  less  feathered.     Wing  more  than  6. CO.     Tetraonidce,  Grouse. 
3.  Tarsus  naked.     Wing  less  than  6.00.     Odontophoridoe,  Bob-whites. 

24.    FAMILY  ODONTOPHORID/E.      AMERICAN  QUAILS 

Genus  Colinus  (Goldf.) 

136.  Colinus  virginianus  virginianus  (Linn.}.  BOB-WHITE,  "PARTRIDGE," 
"  QUAIL." 

Description.— Upperparts  mottled  grayish,  tinged  with  rusty  and  waved  with  dusky  and 
whitish;  lower  parts  whitish  varied  with  black  and  rusty;  adult  males  with  stripe  over  eye  and 
broad  patch  covering  chin,  throat,  and  malar  region  white,  rest  of  head  black;  sides  of  head 
spotted  with  triangular  spots  of  white  and  black.  Adult  females  with  head  buff  and  brown  instead 
of  white  and  black;  chest  mainly  light  cinnamon.  L.,  9.50-10.75;  W.,  4.25-4.75. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons. 

The  most  popular  game  bird  of  North  Carolina  is  the  Partridge,  or  "Quail"  as 
the  northern  hunter  knows  it.  It  ranges  from  the  mountains  to  the  sea. 

North  Carolina  contains  ideal  climatic  and  other  necessary  conditions  for  the 
well-being  of  the  Bob-white.  Any  reasonable  amount  of  protections  will  insure  a 
plentiful  stock  of  this  valuable  game  bird  for  many  years  to  come.  Not  being 
dependent  on  the  uncultivated  wilderness,  as  are  so  many  other  forms  of  game,  the 
more  land  that  is  opened  to  cultivation,  the  greater  has  been  the  increase  of  the 

Quail. 

Wherever  field  peas  or  grain  is  grown,  there  Bob-white  repairs,  the  stray  seed 
from  the  farmer's  crops  seeming  to  be  much  to  his  taste.  He  is  credited  with 
destroying  chinch  bugs,  grasshoppers,  boll  weevils,  striped  cucumber  beetles,  and 
other  injurious  insects,  and  with  varying  his  diet  in  winter  with  the  seeds  of  many 
weeds  which  vex  the  farm  lands.  His  game  qualities  often  enable  the  farmer  to 
lease  the  shooting  privileges  of  his  land  for  enough,  or  more  than  enough,  to  pay 
the  taxes. 

It  nests  both  early  and  late,  and  sometimes  a  brood  almost  grown  may  be  found 
on  November  15  (the  usual  opening  day  for  shooting  in  the  State),  associated  with 
a  brood  of  little  "squealers"  only  just  able  to  fly. 

The  full  complement  of  eggs  is  from  ten  to  eighteen;  sometimes  more  are  found, 
but  such  extraordinary  sets  are  probably  the  result  of  two  hens  occupying  the  same 
nest.  The  principal  laying  month  is  May. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


153 


The  name  Bob-white  comes  from  the  loud  and  clear  two-noted  whistle  of  the 
male  in  the  nesting  season,  when  this  most  musical  and  far-reaching  call  may  be 
heard  a  long  distance  on  a  still  day.  When  a  covey  has  been  scattered,  a  rallying 
call  of  three  notes  is  used.  These  latter  are  the  calls  most  familiar  to  the  hunter. 

25.    FAMILY  TETRAONID>£.     GROUSE 

This  family  is  composed  of  birds  nearly  allied  to  the  preceding  family,  but 
usually  of  greater  size  and  more  northern  range.  They  may  be  distinguished  by 
having  the  tarsus  and  nasal  fossae  feathered,  instead  of  naked  as  in  the  Bob-whites. 

Genus  Bonasa  (Steph.) 
137.  Bonasa  umbellus  umbellus  (Linn.).     RUFFED  GROUSE,  "PHEASANT." 

Description.— Head  crested,  sides  of  neck  with  a  ruff  of  soft  dark  feathers;  upperparts  varied 
with  black,  brown  and  gray,  tail  dusky  with  several  narrow  bands  of  black,  a  broad  subterminal 
band  of  black,  and  a  terminal  one  of  grayish;  lower  parts  whitish  or  buffy,  marked  with  broad 
bars  of  brown.  Female  smaller  than  male,  with  ruff  on  neck  reduced  in  size  or  absent.  L..  15.50 
to  19.00;  W.,  7.00  to  7.50.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Wooded  regions  of  eastern  United  States,  south  in  the  mountains  to  northern  Georgia. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Resident  in  the  mountain  region. 


FIG.  115.     RUFFED  GROUSE. 


FIG.  116.     FOOT  OF 
RUFFED  GROUSE. 


The  Ruffed  Grouse  is  known  in  this  State  as  "Pheasant."  With  us  it  is  a  bird 
of  the  mountain  region  only,  ranging  chiefly  above  the  twenty-five  hundred-foot 
level. 

Perhaps  the  most  striking  characteristic  of  this  grouse  is  the  habit  the  male  has 
of  "drumming."  It  is  the  mating  call  to  the  female,  or  a  challenge  to  a  rival  cock, 
and  few  birds  of  like  size  possess  a  more  distinctive  and  far-reaching  one.  Starting 
with  a  slow,  bass,  drum-beat,  the  notes  shorten  rapidly  until  they  end  with  the  quick 
roll  of  a  kettle-drum.  Through  the  Grouse's  custom  of  frequently  drumming  while 
perched  on  a  log,  it  was  formerly  supposed  that  the  sound  proceeded  from  the 


154  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


strokes  of  the  wings  upon  the  wood.  Now,  however,  it  is  known  that  the  sound 
results  from  rapid  wing-beats  against  the  air.  The  bird  may  stand  on  a  stump  or 
rock  or  anthill,  but  in  no  case  could  the  effect  be  produced  by  beating  its  perch. 

No  more  gamey  bird  inhabits  our  upland  woods.  To  hunt  it  means  thicket  shoot- 
ing at  a  whirling  brown  mass,  that  rises  with  a  roar  and  goes  through  the  bushes 
and  saplings  like  a  feathered  cannon-ball.  You  may  be  a  good  shot  at  ducks  from 
a  blind,  or  at  quail  in  the  open,  but  you  must  learn  many  things  if  you  would 
become  a  successful  hunter  of  the  Ruffed  Grouse. 

Eight  to  fourteen  eggs  are  laid,  and  the  nest  is  usually  well  hidden  in  a  fallen 
tree-top,  under  a  brush-pile,  or  at  the  base  of  a  stump  or  tree.  Sometimes,  how- 
ever, it  is  made  in  the  open.  The  eggs  blend  well  with  the  dead  leaves,  pine  straw, 
etc.,  with  which  the  nest  is  lined.  Incubation  usually  takes  place  in  May.  The 
chicks,  like  the  young  of  other  related  species,  can  run  and  hide  almost  as  soon  as 
clear  from  the  shell.  As  is  the  case  with  young  turkeys,  they  are  carefully  guarded 
from  the  wet  by  the  mother.  Dampness,  perhaps,  is  the  greatest  cause  of  fatality 
to  which  they  are  exposed. 

The  food  of  the  Ruffed  Grouse  is  mast  of  various  kinds,  berries  and  buds,  with 
grasshoppers  and  other  insect  life. 

They  usually  roost  in  trees  and  often  take  refuge  in  the  branches  when  flushed. 
When  the  snow  is  deep  they  sometimes  pass  the  night  in  it,  going  to  roost  with  a 
plunge  through  the  surface. 

26.    FAMILY  MEI_EAGRID>E.      TURKEYS 

Genus  Meleagris  (Linn.) 
138.  Meleagris  gallopavo  silvestris  (Vieill).    WILD  TURKEY. 

Description. — Glossy,  coppery  black,  the  wing-quills  and  secondaries  slaty  barred  with  white. 
Tail  gray,  barred  with  black,  and  tipped  with  deep  rusty  instead  of  white,  as  in  the  domestic 
turkey.  This  bird  may  be  distinguished  from  the  domestic  turkey  by  the  brownish  instead  of 
white  tips  to  the  upper  tail-coverts  and  tail.  L.,  48.00-50.00;  W.,  21.00;  T.,  18.50;  Weight, 
12-30  Ibs. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Permanent  resident  in  all  parts  of  the  State. 

This,  the  largest  and  noblest  game-bird  found  in  the  United  States,  is  still  fairly 
common  over  a  large  area  of  North  Carolina,  wherever  sufficient  bodies  of  wood- 
land suitable  to  its  habits  yet  remain.  It  occurs  from  the  mountains  to  the  sea; 
and  even  in  the  more  thickly  settled  sections  of  the  State.  Where  large  bodies  of 
forest  are  yet  spared,  it  lives  and  breeds  and  holds  its  own  with  remarkable  tenacity. 
Even  in  Wake  County,  within  a  few  miles  of  the  State  capital,  it  still  occurs 
sparingly.  In  November,  1898,  Pearson  frequently  saw  these  birds  either  on  or  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  campus  of  the  State  University  at  Chapel  Hill. 

Common  as  it  is  in  North  Carolina,  the  inexperienced  turkey  hunter  must 
expect  to  see  many  more  tracks  and  scratching-places  than  birds,  as  this  is  one  of 
the  wariest  denizens  of  our  forests.  All  its  senses  capable  of  noting  danger  seem 
ever  on  the  alert,  sight  and  hearing  both  being  of  the  keenest.  But  once  in  a  while 
one  may  almost  walk  up  to  Turkeys  in  the  open  woods. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


155 


Late  in  1910  H.  H.  Brimley,  while  in  a  large  eastern  swamp  hunting  for  bear 
sign,  suddenly  rounded  the  enormous  perpendicular  mass  of  roots  and  earth  thrown 
up  by  a  huge  storm-felled  tree,  when  a  quick  "cluck,  cluck"  attracted  his  attention 
to  three  big  gobblers  which  were  on  the  point  of  leaping  into  the  air.  As  they 
soared  skyward  through  the  tall  gums  the  rifle  spoke  and  a  few  feathers  drifted 
slowly  ground  ward,  though  no  bird  followed.  These  three  gobblers  were  not  more 
than  a  dozen  yards  distant  when  flushed,  and  a  shotgun  should  have  accounted  for 
at  least  two  of  them. 


FIG.  117.     WILD  TURKEY. 

On  another  occasion  three  of  us  were  hurrying  to  our  deer-stands,  each  leading 
a  hound  by  a  chain.  While  passing  through  a  belt  of  heavy  woods,  with  low,  scat- 
tering undergrowth,  the  leading  man  suddenly  dropped  the  chain  and  threw  up 
his  rifle.  Following  the  line  of  his  aim  we  saw  a  flock  of  Turkeys  rise  all  around 
us.  Several  shots  were  fired,  but  nothing  fell,  for  a  rifle  is  not  the  best  of  weapons 
for  snap-shooting  at  flying  game  in  thick  woods. 

We  have,  on  a  few  other  occasions,  come  suddenly  on  Turkeys  in  the  woods,  but 
such  instances  are  exceptions,  as  the  neophyte  in  Turkey  hunting  will  soon  discover. 

From  eight  to  twelve  eggs  is  the  full  complement.    Many  hunters  claim  that  a 


156  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


four-year-old  hen  lays  the  largest  setting,  the  bird  being  then  at  her  prime.  Well 
hidden  indeed  must  be  the  nest.  Skunks,  opossums,  and  raccoons  are  ever  on  the 
alert  for  scrambled  eggs,  and  even  the  old  gobblers  will  destroy  a  family,  whether 
in  the  form  of  eggs  or  helpless  young.  Among  the  young  Turkey's  enemies  are 
wildcats,  foxes,  and  some  of  the  larger  birds  of  prey. 

In  the  fall  the  old  males  join  the  hens  and  their  well-grown  broods,  until  some- 
times flocks  of  very  large  size  result.  With  us,  however,  eight  or  ten  birds  make 
up  the  average  gang,  though  larger  companies  are  by  no  means  rare. 

The  food  of  the  Wild  Turkey  is  varied.  The  young  are  particularly  fond  of 
grasshoppers,  while  various  nuts,  berries,  and  acorns  form  the  bulk  of  the  food  of 
the  adults.  We  have  seen  their  tracks  out  on  a  fresh-water  marsh,  which  were 
made,  we  were  told,  when  the  birds  were  in  search  of  small  frogs.  In  the  swamps 
of  eastern  North  Carolina  the  black-gum  berries  are  a  staple  article  of  diet,  the 
leafy  carpet  of  the  woods  where  black-gums  grow  bearing  abundant  evidences  of 
the  fact. 

The  principal  method  of  hunting  these  birds  is  by  scattering  the  flock  and  after- 
wards calling  them  up  individually  within  range  of  the  gun. 

• 

27.    FAMILY  PHASIANID>E.      PHEASANTS 

Genus  Phasianus  (Linn.) 

139.  Fhasianus  colchicus  x  phasianus  torquatus.    ENGLISH  RING-NECKED 

PHEASANT. 

Description. — General  color  of  male,  coppery  chestnut,  with  bright  purple  or  bronze  reflec- 
tions. The  neck  is  metallic  blue,  tail  long  and  pointed,  with  dark  crossbars.  The  female  is 
brownish,  mottled  and  varied  with  dusky:  lower  parts  plain:  tail  barred.  L.,  30.00:  W.,  10.00; 
T.,  18.00y20.00. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — At  present  confined  largely  to  the  piedmont  section  of  the  State. 

While  the  English  Ring-necked  Pheasant  is  not  a  native,  it  has  been  introduced 
and  reared  on  some  of  the  large  game  preserves  in  the  central  part  of  the  State. 
Wandering  beyond  the  borders  of  these  preserves,  this  splendid  game  bird  may  now 
be  frequently  met  with  in  various  localities;  especially  is  this  true  in  the  counties 
of  Randolph,  Chatham,  Davidson,  and  Guilford. 

Large  in  size,  of  most  gorgeous  plumage  (in  the  case  of  the  male),  and  one  of 
the  best  birds  for  the  table,  the  English  Ring-necked  Pheasant  is  worthy  of  the 
heartiest  efforts  of  the  bird-protectionist.  With  proper  regulations  for  its  propaga- 
tion and  protection,  it  should  prove  a  valuable  addition  to  the  avifauna  of  the 
State.  Thousands  of  them  breed  today  in  a  wild  state  in  central  North  Carolina. 
The  English  Ring-necked  Pheasant  is  a  hybrid  between  the  English  Pheasant 
(Phasianus  colchicus}  and  the  Ring-necked  Pheasant  (Phasianus  torquatus). 

XI.  ORDER  COLUMB^!.    PIGEONS  AND  DOVES 

28.    FAMILY  COI_UMBID>E.      PIGEONS  AND  DOVES 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Tail  short,  rounded;  wing  less  than  4.00.     Chcemepelia. 
1.  Tail  long  and  pointed.     Zenaidura. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  157 


The  passenger  pigeon,  Ectopistes  migratorius  (Linn.},  is  doubtless  now  extinct. 
A  reward  of  $1,500  was  recently  offered  by  some  American  ornithologists  for  the 
discovery  of  a  nest.  This  was  advertised  by  the  Audubon  societies  in  all  parts  of 
North  America;  but  when  the  offer  closed  on  December  1,  1911,  after  having  stood 
for  two  years,  there  had  been  found  no  one  to  claim  the  reward.  Formerly  these 
birds  occurred  in  uncountable  millions,  their  flights  darkening  the  sky  and  their 
roosting  and  nesting  places  being  strewn  with  broken  branches  torn  from  the  trees 
by  the  sheer  weight  of  the  tons  of  bird-life  piled  upon  them.  A  nesting  colony 
in  Michigan  in  1876  or  1877  occupied  the  forest  over  a  territory  twenty-eight  miles 
long  by  three  or  four  miles  wide.  The  last  known  nesting  site  in  Michigan  occurred 
in  1881,  and  was  "only  of  moderate  size — perhaps  eight  miles  long." — BREWSTER. 

Actual  records  of  their  occurrence  in  North  Carolina  are  not  plentiful,  although 
one  may  often  hear  old  residents  speak  of  their  appearance  in  great  flocks  many 
years  ago.  H.  H.  Brimley  spent  the  whole  morning  following  a  single  specimen 
in  some  pine  woods  near  Raleigh  in  the  spring  of  1891.  This  was  the  last  of  the 
three  specimens  he  has  ever  seen  alive.  Cairns  reported  it  as  very  rare  in  Bun- 
combe County  in  the  early  nineties,  and  collected  a  female  in  1894.  Dr.  K.  P. 
Battle,  of  Raleigh,  a  careful  observer  of  birds,  states  that  when  at  Bingham  School 
between  1871  and  1872  he  saw  a  flock  about  a  mile  in  width.  When  at  the  State 
University  at  Chapel  Hill,  in  1878,  he  killed  one  out  of  a  bunch  of  three. 

There  is  no  definite,  incontrovertible  explanation  of  the  cause  of  the  total  extinc- 
tion of  this  bird,  which  in  teeming  millions  swept  over  the  country  only  a  few 
years  ago.  We  only  know  that  the  vast  nesting  sites,  which  thirty  years  ago 
showed  a  riot  of  bird  life  so  crowded  and  so  extensive  as  to  be  far  beyond  the 
power  of  human  mind  to  grasp  in  terms  of  numbers  of  individuals,  are  now  silent 
and  deserted.  Of  the  myriads  that  once  obscured  the  rays  of  the  sun,  only  a  soli- 
tary individual  remained  in  existence  when  these  lines  were  written,  a  female 
eighteen  years  of  age  confined  in  a  cage  in  the  Zoological  Gardens  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  This  specimen,  apparently  the  last  of  the  race,  died  on  September  1,  1914. 
Their  extinction  was  doubtless  hastened  by  the  great  slaughter  to  which  they 
were  subjected  by  the  hands  of  man. 

Should  one  of  these  birds  by  any  chance  fall  into  the  hands  of  any  of  our  readers, 
it  may  be  known  by  its  general  resemblance  to  the  Mourning  Dove,  coupled  with 
much  larger  size. 

Genus  Zenaidura  (Bonap.) 

140.  Zenaidura  macroura  carolinensis  (Linn.}.    MOURNING  DOVE. 

Description. — Brownish  olive,  glossed  with  blue  and  vinaceous;  a  dark  ear-spot  in  male;  belly 
cream-buff;  plumage  with  metaUic  luster.  Female  duller.  L.,  11.00-13.00;  W.,  5.75-6.00;  T", 
5.75-6.50. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  universally  distributed. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons;  common. 

Mourning  Doves  are  common  residents  throughout  the  State.  In  the  fall  and 
winter  they  gather  in  flocks  and  many  frequent  the  grain  and  peanut  fields.  They 
are  birds  of  strong  appetites.  One  killed  by  a  United  States  Government  collector 


158  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


in  Kentucky  was  found  to  contain  over  7,000  weed-seeds.  They  are  regarded  as 
game-birds  in  North  Carolina,  and  many  are  annually  shot,  particularly  in  the 
early  autumn. 


FIG.  118.     MOUENING  DOVE. 

The  nest  is  a  frail  structure  of  sticks  and  twigs  placed  on  the  ground,  on  stumps, 
or  the  limbs  of  trees.  Two  white,  elliptical  eggs  are  deposited.  In  the  mating 
season  doves  may  often  be  seen  sailing  through  the  upper  air  much  after  the  man- 
ner of  some  of  our  small  hawks. 

Genus  Chsemepelia  (Swains.) 
141.  Chsemepelia  passerina  terrestris  (Chap.).    GROUND  DOVE. 

Description. — Grayish  olive,  with  bluish  gloss,  the  head  and  breast  vinaceous  in  male.  Female 
duller.  L.,  6.00-7.00;  W.,  3.00-3.50;  T.,  2.50. 

Remarks. — -May  be  easily  told  from  the  Mourning  Dove,  the  only  other  North  Carolina  species, 
by  its  small  size  and  short  tail. 

Range. — -Southeastern  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Occurs  more  or  less  rarely  in  the  eastern  section. 


FIG.  119.     GROUND  DOVE. 

This  is  one  of  our  rarest  birds,  having  a  much  more  southerly  habitat  than  the 
preceding  species.  North  Carolina  is  on  the  extreme  northern  limit  of  its  range, 
and  definite  knowledge  of  its  occurrence  is  very  limited.  Two  records  from  Bun- 
combe and  two  from  Craven  County  are  all  that  we  have  had  until  recently.  On 
October  7,  1911,  however,  a  specimen  was  killed  near  Wilson  by  L.  T.  Edwards, 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  159 


and  was  sent  to  the  Museum  in  the  flesh  by  P.  L.  Woodward.  Mr.  Woodward  had 
previously  written  in  regard  to  the  occurrence  of  small  doves  in  his  locality.  We 
are,  therefore,  led  to  suppose  that  its  occurrence  in  that  region  is  somewhat  more 
than  accidental.  There  appears  to  be  no  authentic  record  of  its  breeding  in  North 
Carolina. 

This  is  a  tiny  pigeon,  little  larger  than  a  Bobolink  or  Cedar  Bird.  It  is  a  bird  of 
the  fields  and  open  woods.  In  Florida,  Pearson  has  found.the  nests  of  this  species 
situated  on  the  ground,  on  the  top  of  stumps,  on  the  larger  limbs  of  orange  trees, 
on  the  horizontal  rails  supporting  Scuppernong  grape-vines,  and  once  in  a  cabbage 
palm.  He  describes  it  as  a  very  confiding  little  bird,  much  frequenting  orchards, 
fields,  and  door-yards,  and  states  that  when  taking  flight  it  often  strikes  its  wing- 
tips  together,  thus  producing  a  sound  like  that  made  in  the  same  way  by  the  Mourn- 
ing Dove. 

XII.  ORDER  RAPTORES.     BIRDS  OF  PREY 

This  order  includes  the  hawks,  eagles,  vultures,  kites,  falcons,  and  owls.  All  are 
birds  with  strongly  hooked  beaks  which  are  covered  at  the  base  with  a  cere  or  cover- 
ing of  naked  skin  and  through  which  the  nostrils  open.  Except  in  the  vultures,  the 
claws  are  sharp  and  curved. 

KEY  TO  FAMILIES 

1.  Head  entirely  naked  in  adult,  hind  toe  elevated,  short.     Cathartidce,  American  Vultures. 

1.  Head  nearly  or  quite  fully  feathered,  hind  toe  on  a  level  with  the  rest.     See  2. 

2.  Eyes  directed  forward,  surrounded  by  a  more  or  less  complete  disk  of  radiating  feathers.     Owls. 

See3. 

2.  Eyes  directed  sideways,  as  usual  in  birds  (not  surrounded  by  a  disk  of  radiating  feathers  except 

in  the  marsh  hawk).     Hawks  and  Eagles.     See  4. 

3.  Facial  disk  subtriangular.     Middle  claw  pectinate.    Aluconidos,  Barn  Owls. 

3.  Facial  disk  subcircular.    Middle  claw  not  pectinate.    Strigidce,  Owls. 

4.  Outer  toe  reversible,  claws  all  of  same  length,  narrowed  and  rounded  on  lower  side.     Pan- 

dionidos,  Ospreys. 

4.  Outer  toe  not  reversible,  claws  graduated  in  size,  the  hind  claw  the  largest,  the  outer  claw  the 

smallest.     See  5. 

5.  Nostrils  small,  circular,  with  a  conspicuous  central  bony  tubercle;  cutting  edge  of  upper  man- 

dible with  a  strong  tooth  separated  from  hooked  tip  of  bill  by  a  distinct  notch.     Falconidce, 
Falcons. 
5.  Nostrils  not  circular,  nor  with  an  inner  bony  tubercle.     Buteonidce,  Hawks  and  Eagles. 

29.    FAMILY  CATHARTID>£.     AMERICAN  VULTURES 

This  family  is  composed  of  large  Raptores,  which  have  the  hind  toe  short  and 
elevated,  the  head  naked,  and  the  claws  blunt  and  but  slightly  curved.  They  feed 
almost  exclusively  on  carrion.  Some  of  the  largest  birds  of  flight  belong  to  this 
family.  The  Condor  of  the  Andes,  and  the  California  Condor  of  our  Pacific  States, 
sometimes  have  an  expanse  of  wings  of  nearly  twelve  feet. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Wings  very  long,  primaries  reaching  to  end  of  tail  or  further  (when  wings  are  closed).     Tail 

rounded,  nostrils  large  and  broad.     Cathartes. 
1.  Wings  short,  primaries  scarcely  reaching  middle  of  tail.     Tail  truncate,  nostrils  small  and 

narrow.     Catharista. 


160 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Genus  Cathartes  (Illig.) 
142.  Cathartes  aura  septentrionalis  (Wied.).    TURKEY  VULTURE. 

Description. — Black  above  and  below,  the  feathers  of  the  upperparts  so  broadly  edged  with 
brown  that  the  bird  is  more  brown  than  black  above.  Skin  of  head  and  neck  red  in  adult,  dusky 
in  young.  L.,  about  30.00;  W.,  22.00;  T.,  12.50. 

Range. — Temperate  and  Tropical  North  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons. 


FIG.  120.     TURKEY  VULTURE. 

The  Turkey  Vulture,  better  known  as  the  "  Turkey  Buzzard,"  is  one  of  our  best 
known  birds,  and  has  been  considered  a  friend  of  man  on  account  of  its  work  as  a 
scavenger  and  devourer  of  dead  and  unburied  carcasses.  However,  veterinarians 
assert  that  it  carries  the  germs  of  hog-cholera  from  one  hog-pen  to  another,  and 
thus  aids  in  the  spread  of  that  disease. 

Unlike  the  Black  Vulture,  the  Buzzard  seems  to  show  no  particular  preference 
for  large  carrion.  Sailing  low  over  the  ground,  it  will  stop  as  readily  for  a  dead 
snake  or  rabbit  as  for  the  remains  of  a  cow.  It  can  be  distinguished  from  the  Black 
Vulture  when  flying  by  the  fact  that  the  wings  are  usually  bent  at  the  carpal  joint 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  161 


so  that  the  forward  primaries  point  obliquely  backward,  instead  of  at  right  angles 
to  the  body,  as  is  the  case  with  our  other  vulture. 

Although  it  is  not  an  uncommon  joke  in  this  State  to  say  that  the  "Buzzard"  is 
protected  as  a  "song-bird,"  yet,  as  all  who  are  familiar  with  it  can  testify,  it  is 
practically  voiceless.  An  occasional  hiss,  uttered  when  disturbed  at  the  nest  or 
when  quarreling  with  others  over  its  food,  is  the  only  sound  that  we  have  ever  heard 
the  adult  birds  utter.  Young  in  the  nest,  however,  are  sometimes  very  noisy. 

In  central  North  Carolina  the  eggs  are  laid  in  April  or  May.  These  are  two  in 
number  and  are  deposited  in  a  slight  depression  on  the  ground  in  the  shelter  formed 
by  an  overhanging  rock,  a  fallen  tree-trunk,  or  even  the  limbs  of  a  prostrate  tree. 
Sometimes  they  are  laid  in  the  hollow  base  of  a  tree  or  within  a  hollow  log.  They 
have  a  creamy  white  ground-color,  blotched  and  spotted  with  various  shades  of 
brown  and  lavender.  Size  2.74  x  1.89.  The  young  at  first  are  covered  with  white 
down. 

Genus  Catharista  (Vieill.) 

143.  Catharista  urubu  urubu  (Vieill.').    BLACK  VULTURE. 

Description. — Uniform  dull  black,  including  bare  skin  of  head  and  neck.  L..  about  23.00; 
W.,  17.00;  T.,  8.00. 

Range. — Tropical  and  warm  temperate  America  from  North  Carolina  to  Argentina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Irregularly  present  at  all  seasons  in  all  parts^of  the  State  east  of 
the  mountains. 


FIG.  121.     BLACK  VULTURE. 

The  Black  Vulture,  sometimes  called  in  this  State  the  "South  Carolina  Buz- 
zard," occurs  irregularly  at  all  seasons,  and  usually  in  flocks,  throughout  the  greater 
part  of  North  Carolina.  In  the  mountains,  however,  our  only  record  comes  from 
Buncombe  County,  where  Cairns  called  it  very  irregular  in  its  occurrence.  At 
Chapel  Hill,  and  at  Greensboro,  Pearson  has  never  seen  them  except  in  November, 
December,  and  January. 

The  eggs,  which  are  often  laid  on  the  ground,  in  canebrakes,  or  in  thick  growths 
of  vines  and  underbrush,  are  two,  and  are  a  little  larger  than  those  of  the  Turkey 
Vulture,  and  with  fewer  markings;  they  differ  also  in  the  ground-color,  this  being 

11 


162  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


pale  grey-green  instead  of  creamy  white,  as  in  the  other  species.  The  only  sets  of 
eggs  we  know  to  have  been  taken  in  North  Carolina  were  secured  on  an  island  in 
Neuse  River,  two  miles  above  Milburnie,  in  Wake  County,  on  April  20,  1891,  and 
April  20,  1893,  and  April  6,  1896,  by  Brimley.  The  eggs  found  on  the  two  former 
dates  were  advanced  in  incubation,  while  those  on  the  last  date  were  fresh. 

3O.    FAMILY  BUTEONID/E.      HAWKS,  EAGLES,  KITES,    ETC. 

This  family  includes  all  of  the  hawk  tribe,  except  the  true  falcons,  and  the 
Osprey  or  Fish  Hawk. 

They  have  strong,  hooked  bills,  and  long,  curved,  sharp  claws.  All  are  diurnal 
in  their  habits  and  they  constitute  our  typical  birds  of  prey.  Many  of  them  feed  on 
small  mammals,  others  partake  extensively  of  reptiles,  while  fish,  crustaceans,  and 
insects  are  not  despised.  Many  of  these  points,  however,  are  shared  in  common 
with  the  Osprey s,  all  the  claws  of  which  are  the  same  length,  and  the  Falcons, 
which  have  circular  nostrils  with  a  central  bony  tubercle. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Wing  more  than  20,  tail  not  forked.     Eagles.     See  2. 

1.  Wing  not  more  than  18.    See  3. 

2.  Tarsus  feathered  to  the  toes.     Aquila. 

2.  Tarsus  naked  all  round  for  at  least  lower  third.     Haliaeetus. 

3.  Tail  deeply  forked.     Elanoides. 

3.  Tail  not  deeply  forked.     See  4. 

4.  Tarsus  densely  feathered  in  front  to  base  of  toes.     Archibuteo. 

4.  Tarsus  naked  all  round.     See  5. 

5.  Tarsus  reticulate  all  round.     Elanus. 

5.  Tarsus  scutellate  in  front.     See  6. 

6.  Face  with  a  slight  ruff,  as  in  the  owls;  tarsus  about  as  long  as  tibia;  wings  long.     Circus. 

6.  Face  without  a  ruff.     See  7. 

7.  Tarsus  about  as  long  as  tibia;  wings  short,  little  longer  than  tail.     Accipiler. 

7.  Tarsus  decidedly  shorter  than  tibia.     See  8. 

8.  Tarsus  scuttelate  in  front  and  behind.     Buteo. 
8.  Tarsus  scutellate  in  front  only.     Ictinia. 

Genus  Elanoides  (Vieill.) 
144.  Elanoides  forficatus  (Linn.}.    SWALLOW-TAILED  KITE. 

Description. — Head,  neck,  and  entire  lower  parts,  and  band  across  rump  white;  back,  wings, 
and  tail  black.  Distinguished  from  all  our  other  hawks  by  the  very  deeply  forked  tail.  L., 
19.00  to  25.00;  W.,  15.50  to  17.75;  T.,  12.50  to  14.50. 

Range. — Tropical  and  warm  temperate  America;  regularly  from  North  Carolina  southward; 
casually  much  farther  north. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Summer  resident  in  Craven  County,  and  probably  other  parts  of 
the  east.  Occasional  in  the  mountain  region. 

In  gracefulness  of  flight  the  Swallow-tailed  Kite  is  the  equal  of  a  tern  or  swallow, 
and  on  the  wing  it  appears  not  wholly  unlike  a  gigantic  member  of  either  group. 

In  this  State  it  seems  to  occur  regularly  in  the  lake  region  of  Craven  County 
below  New  Bern,  where  we  have  observed  it  during  summers  of  1905,  1906,  1907, 
and  1909.  Pearson  also  noted  a  specimen  near  Waccamaw  Lake,  in  Columbus 
County,  on  June  16,  1898.  While  not  of  common  occurrence,  it  is  evidently  a  regu- 
lar summer  visitor  in  Craven  County,  where  it  has  acquired  the  name  of  "Snake 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  163 


Hawk"  from  its  habit  of  eating  such  reptiles.  In  western  North  Carolina  we  have 
had  several  records  from  the  Black  Mountains.  Here  it  appears  to  be  a  late  sum- 
mer transient  or  straggler. 

The  nest,  like  those  of  other  hawks,  is  built  mostly  of  twigs,  and  is  usually  placed 
in  the  crotch  of  some  tall  tree,  usually  near  the  top.  The  eggs  are  from  two  to 
four  in  number,  dull  ashy  gray,  or  creamy  white,  blotched  and  spotted  with  various 
shades  of  brown  and  reddish  brown.  Size  1.85  x  1.50.  We  know  of  no  nest  of  this 
species  being  found  in  North  Carolina. 

A  species  of  the  genus  Elanus,  the  White-tailed  Kite  (leucurus),  known  by  its  white  head  and 
tail,  may  occur  in  the  State.  Its  length  is  about  16.00. 

Genus  Ictinia  (Vieill.) 
145.  Ictinia  mississippiensis  (Wils.}.    MISSISSIPPI  KITE. 

Description. — Adult  uniform  plumbeous,  becoming  whitish  on  head,  and  blackish  on  tail  and 
wings.  Young  with  head,  neck,  and  underparts  white,  longitudinally  striped  or  spotted  with 
brown.  L.,  about  14.50;  W.,  11.50;  T.,  6.50. 

Range. — Southern  United  States,  Mexico,  and  Central  America,  north  to  Georgia,  south  to 
Guatemala. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  recorded  from  Cherokee  County. 


FIG.  122.     MISSISSIPPI  KITE. 

The  Mississippi  Kite  gains  a  recognized  place  in  the  fauna  of  our  State  through 
its  casual  appearance  in  Cherokee  County.  Mrs.  Donald  Wilson  records  one  taken 
near  Andrews,  May  26,  1893.  Collett  also  tells  us  of  two  other  specimens  being 
killed  in  that  neighborhood  about  the  same  date. 

This  bird,  like  the  preceding,  is  said  to  select  the  tops  of  high  trees  for  nesting 
sites.  The  eggs  are  white,  usually  without  markings,  and  are  two  or  three  in  num- 
ber. Size  about  1.60  x  1.30. 

The  range  of  the  Mississippi  Kite  is  chiefly  west  of  the  Mississippi  River. 


164  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Genus  Circus  (Lacep.) 

This  genus  contains  several  foreign  species,  but  is  represented  in  North  America 
by  only  one — the  Marsh  Hawk.  The  genus  differs  from  other  hawks  in  having  the 
feathers  of  the  face  forming  a  slight  ruff,  somewhat  as  in  the  owls. 

146.  Circus  hudsonius  (Linn.).    MARSH  HAWK;  "RABBIT  HAWK." 

Description. — Adult  male,  pale  bluish  gray,  the  rump  and  underparts  whitish;  female  and 
immature  male  dusky  brown  above,  the  underparts  whitish,  streaked  with  brown,  rump  white. 
L.,  18.00  to  20.00;  W.,  14.00  to  15.00;  T.,  8.50  to  10.25. 

Range. — Whole  of  North  America,  south  in  winter  to  Panama  and  West  Indies. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  east  of  the  mountains  in  winter;  otherwise  recorded  by 
Cairns  as  an  uncommon  fall  transient  in  Buncombe  County,  and  by  Coues  as  a  common  resident 
near  Beaufort,  on  the  coast. 


FIG.   123.     MAESH  HAWK  (Male). 

The  Marsh  Hawk  occurs  commonly  in  North  Carolina  from  August  15  to  late 
April,  and  may  frequently  be  seen  in  winter,  flying  low  over  the  earth  with  slow 
measured  flaps  of  its  long  wings.  Now  and  then  it  pauses  in  its  wandering  course 
to  hover  briefly  over  the  dead  grass  ere  it  drops  suddenly  on  some  luckless  mouse. 

Its  well-known  fondness  for  small  rodents  has  earned  it  a  name  for  usefulness 
which  should  commend  it  to  every  farmer  in  the  State. 

The  eggs  are  white,  usually  unmarked,  but  sometimes  faintly  spotted  with  brown. 
They  number  four  to  six,  and  measure  about  1.80  x  1.40.  They  are  laid  in  April 
or  May  in  a  nest  built,  unlike  that  of  most  hawks,  on  the  ground  in  a  meadow  or 
pasture.  We  have  no  breeding-records  from  this  State,  but  it  is  said  that  this  hawk 
has  been  known  to  nest  on  Roanoke  Island. 

Genus  Accipiter  (Briss.) 

Comprises  hawks  with  short,  rounded  wings  and  a  long  tail.  They  prey  mostly 
on  birds,  and  are  bold  marauders  of  the  farmer's  chicken  yard. 

Two  species  occur  with  us,  and  a  third— the  Goshawk— may  occasionally  wander 
this  far  south. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  165 


KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Tail  emarginate,  even,  or  nearly  so,  wing  not  more  than  8.80.     Sharp-shinned  Hawk. 
1.  Tail  rounded,  wing  not  less  than  8.85.     Cooper's  Hawk. 

147.  Accipiter  velox  (Wils.}.     SHARP-SHINNED  HAWK. 

Description. — General  color  bluish  gray,  underparts  white  barred  with  rusty;  immature  birds 
dusky  brown  above,  underparts  white  streaked  with  brown  or  dusky.  L.,  10.75  to  14.25;  W., 
6.50  to  8.25;  T.,  5.50  to  7.25  and  feathers  of  uniform  length.  The  males  are  much  smaller  than 
the  females. 

Range. — Whole  of  North  America,  south  in  winter  to  Panama. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Resident  in  the  mountains,  but  usually  only  a  winter  visitor  else- 
where in  the  State. 


FIG.   124.     SHARP-SHINNED  HAWK. 

Although  the  Sharp-shinned  Hawk  is  undoubtedly  present  throughout  the  State, 
we  have  but  few  actual  records.  Cairns  called  it  a  common  resident  in  Buncombe 
County,  while  in  the  central  region  we  have  it  recorded  as  a  winter  visitor  in 
Orange,  Wake,  Guilford,  and  Granville  counties,  where  it  occurs  from  the  middle 
of  August  to  April  15.  Coues  recorded  it  as  once  taken  at  Fort  Macon  in  Sep- 
tember. 

This  species  is  one  of  the  few  hawks  that  confine  their  attacks  mainly  to  birds. 
C.  S.  Brimley  shot  one  that  had  captured  a  Flicker  which  must  have  weighed  almost 
as  much  as  the  hawk,  and  Pearson  saw  one  catch  a  Quail  in  Granville  County.  In 
pursuit  of  its  prey,  it  can  twist  and  double  in  and  out  among  bushes  or  trees  with 
most  surprising  speed. 

Late  in  April,  1894,  a  set  of  three  fresh  eggs  was  brought  to  Pearson  at  Guilford 
College  by  a  boy  of  the  neighborhood,  who  stated  that  he  had  taken  them  from  a 
nest  in  a  pine  tree  about  twenty-five  feet  from  the  ground.  Three  weeks  later  the 
boy  appeared  with  four  more  eggs  which  he  had  collected  from  another  nest  in  close 
proximity  to  the  former  one.  Both  nests  were  evidently  made  by  the  same  pair  of 
birds.  We  have  no  other  record  of  this  species  breeding  in  the  State. 

148.  Accipiter  cooperi  (Bonap.}.  COOPER'S  HAWK;  "BLUE  DARTER"; 
"CHICKEN  HAWK";  "BLUE-TAILED  HAWK." 

Description. — Very  similar  to  preceding,  but  larger,  and  crown  blackish  in  adult.  L.,  16.00; 
W.,  9.00;  T.,  9.00  and  with  rounded  end. 

Range. — Whole  of  temperate  North  America,  including  most  of  Mexico. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Whole  State  at  all  seasons. 


166 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Cooper's  Hawk  is  known  to  be  a  permanent  resident  in  all  portions  of  the 
State,  and  in  many  districts  is  abundant.  It  may  be  noted  that  the  local  names 
given  this  species  apply  as  well  to  the  Sharp-shinned  Hawk. 

This  is  the  hawk  which  preys  conspicuously  upon  chickens,  although  its  misdeeds 
are  very  often  attributed  to  the  larger,  clumsier  hawks  of  the  genus  Buteo,  which 
are  also  commonly  and  erroneously  called  "  Chicken  Hawks."  Besides  poultry, 
which  of  course  constitutes  only  a  small  portion  of  its  food,  this  bird  preys  to  a 
considerable  extent  upon  various  small  birds,  and  seems  to  have  but  small  liking 
for  the  rats,  mice,  reptiles,  and  large  insects  so  much  esteemed  as  articles  of  diet 
by  many  of  our  other  hawks. 


FIG.  125.     COOPER'S  HAWK. 

The  nest  is  often  built  in  the  main  crotch  of  a  medium-sized  tree,  or  on  a  limb 
close  to  the  trunk.  It  is  constructed  of  twigs  or  small  sticks;  sometimes  the  old 
nest  of  a  crow  or  of  some  other  hawk  is  used.  The  eggs  are  two  to  four  in  the 
southern  part  of  its  range,  and  are  frequently  unmarked,  though  not  uncommonly 
lightly  blotched  or  marked  with  some  shade  of  brown  or  drab.  Size  1.95  x  1.50. 
They  are  generally  laid  in  May  or  June. 

Genus  Buteo  (Lacep.) 

This  genus  includes  a  number  of  comparatively  large  and  sluggish  hawks,  with 
rather  long  and  broad  wings,  and  a  medium  length  of  tail.  In  Europe  they  are 
known  as  "Buzzards." 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  167 


KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Four  outermost  wing  quills  with  webs  distinctly  emarginated  (abruptly  narrowed  on  about 
the  outer  half).     See  2. 

1.  Only  three  outer  wing  quills  emarginate.     See  3. 

2.  Outer  webs  of  primary  quills  distinctly  spotted  with  white.     Red-shouldered  Hawk. 

2.  Outer  webs  of  primaries  unspotted.     Red-tailed  Hawk. 

3.  Wing  less  than  12.00.     Broad-winged  Hawk. 
3.  Wing  more  than  14.00.     Swainsoris  Hawk. 

149.  Buteo  borealis  borealis  (Gmel.).    RED-TAILED  HAWK;  "HEN  HAWK." 

Description. — Dark  brown  above,  underparts  white,  much  marked  with  rusty  on  the  breast 
and  dusky  on  the  belly,  the  markings  being  heaviest  and  darkest  on  the  belly.  Tail  rufous  above, 
with  subterminal  black  bar  in  adult,  duller  in  young,  with  a  number  of  narrow  black  bars.  L.» 
20.00  to  23.50;  W.,  15.75  to  17.00;  T.,  9.00  to  9.75.  The  largest  birds  are  usually  females. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons. 


FIG.  126.     RED-TAILED  HAWK. 

The  Red-tailed  Hawk  is  not  as  a  rule  distinguished  by  our  people  from  the  next 
mentioned  species,  for,  although  larger,  its  superficial  appearance  is  somewhat 
similar. 

It  is  not  very  particular  in  its  feeding  habits,  eating  almost  any  living  thing  it 
can  capture,  from  a  spider  to  a  hen.  The  major  part  of  its  food,  however,  appears 
to  consist  of  mice,  frogs,  snakes,  lizards,  crawfish,  and  insects. 

The  nest  is  usually  situated  in  the  crotch  of  some  large  oak,  and  the  same  tree 
is  frequently  used  by  one  pair  for  many  years.  It  is  a  bulky  structure  of  small 
sticks,  lined  with  finer  material.  The  eggs,  which  are  deposited  generally  in  April, 
vary  from  two  to  four  in  number.  They  are  dull  white,  and  are  usually  more  or 
less  heavily  marked  with  irregular  spots  and  blotches  of  brown.  Size  2.38  x  1.80. 

150.  Buteo  lineatus  lineatus  (Gmd.}.    RED-SHOULDERED  HAWK. 

Description. — Dark  brown,  the  breast  (in  the  adult)  rust-red  crossed  with  narrow  bars  of 
white;  four  outer  primaries  notched  on  their  inner  sides;  tail  with  narrow  bars  of  white.  Im- 
mature birds  with  underparts  white,  streaked  with  dark  brown,  this  streaking  heaviest  on  the 
breast;  tail  dusky,  barred  with  dull  buffy.  L.,  17.75  to  19.75;  W.,  12.25  to  13.75;  T.,  8.25  to  9.25. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina.— Whole  State,  resident  at  least  east  of  the  mountains. 

• 

The  Red-shouldered  Hawk  is  often  confused  in  the  popular  mind  with  the  pre- 
ceding, and  is  likewise  called  "Chicken  Hawk"  or  "Hen  Hawk,"  although  we  have 


168  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


never  known  one  to  kill  a  bird  of  any  kind.  It  is  undoubtedly  the  most  abundant 
of  our  larger  hawks.  Cairns  regarded  it  as  only  a  winter  visitor  in  Buncombe 
County.  In  most  of  the  State,  however,  it  is  a  resident  throughout  the  year,  build- 
ing its  nest  in  the  crotches  of  large  trees,  usually  oaks,  along  the  creek  bottoms. 
The  eggs  are  laid  in  early  April,  and  are  usually  two  or  three  in  number,  of  a  whitish 


FIG.   127.     RED-SHOULDERED  HAWK. 

ground-color,  variously  marked  with  different  shades  of  brown,  buff,  and  gray. 
Size  2.15  x  1.70.  On  May  9,  1899,  at  Chapel  Hill,  Orange  County,  Pearson  found 
two  handsomely  marked  eggs  in  a  nest  situated  in  a  pine  tree  thirty  feet  from  the 
ground.  At  this  date  incubation  was  well  advanced.  H.  H.  Brimley  has  also  found 
the  bird  nesting  in  pine  trees. 

151.  Buteo  swainsoni  (Bonap.}.    SWAINSON'S  HAWK. 

Description. — Gray,  variously  streaked;  usually  a  bright  chestnut  or  brownish  area  on  breast; 
tail  with  narrow  dark  bars,  three  outer  primaries  notched.     L.,  20.00;  W.,  15.00;  T.,  8.50. 
Range.— Western  North  America,  east  to  the  Mississippi. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Recorded  by  Cairns  from  Buncombe  County. 

Swainson's  Hawk  is  admitted  to  the  fauna  of  this  State  on  the  strength  of  its 
being  included  in  Cairns's  list  of  Buncombe  County  birds,  published  in  the  Ornithol- 
ogist and  Oologist  for  January,  1887.  It  is  there  spoken  of  as  accidental.  Cairns 
was  so  careful  and  accurate  an  observer  that  his  records  cannot  be  lightly  thrown 
aside,  and  this  one  is  therefore  included  here. 

152.  Buteo  platypterus  platypterus  (Vieitt.}.    BROAD-WINGED  HAWK. 

Description. — -Brown  above,  whitish  or  fulvous  below,  variously  streaked  or  barred;  three  outer 
primaries  "notched"  (as  in  the  Swainson's  Hawk),  and  without  markings.  L.,  15.50;  W.,  10.50; 
T.,  7.00.  Easily  distinguished  from  others  of  the  genus  by  its  smaller  size. 

Range.— Eastern  North  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -So  far,  only  known  from  Wake,  Orange,  and  Buncombe  counties 
in  summer.  • 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  169 


The  Broad-winged  Hawk,  the  smallest  of  our  North  Carolina  buteos,  is  only 
known  as  a  summer  resident  in  North  Carolina.  At  Raleigh  it  arrives  about  the 
first  week  in  April,  and,  being  a  woodland  bird  of  retiring  habits,  would  hardly  be 
noticed  were  it  not  for  its  peculiar,  long-drawn  whistle,  quite  unlike  the  screams 
uttered  by  other  hawks. 

Five  sets  of  eggs  of  this  species  have  been  taken  in  Wake  County,  three  being 
from  the  same  nest,  which  the  birds  repaired  and  used  in  successive  years,  viz., 
1890,  1891,  and  1895.  The  other  two  sets  were  also  taken  in  1895.  The  date  of 
these  ranged  from  April  25,  in  1890,  to  May  22,  in  1895.  The  number  of  eggs 
was  two  in  four  cases  and  three  in  the  fifth.  A  set  was  taken  by  Cairns  in  Bun- 
combe County  on  April  25,  1890,  which  chanced  to  be  the  same  day  on  which  H.  H. 
Brimley  took  his  first  set  at  Raleigh.  All  the  Raleigh  nests  were  in  pines;  the 
Buncombe  nest  was  in  an  oak. 


Fia.  128.     BROAD-WINGED  HAWK. 

Pearson  records  a  female  taken  in  Orange  County,  April  15,  1899  (Catalogue 
of  the  Birds  of  Chapel  Hill,  page  39). 

The  nest  is  rather  large  and  is  loosely  constructed  of  sticks,  lined  with  flat  scales 
of  bark,  and  a  few  leafy  twigs  of  pine  or  oak.  It  is  invariably  placed  in  the  crotch 
of  a  large  tree.  The  eggs  are  dull  grayish  white  in  ground  color,  spotted  or  blotched 
with  brown,  or  with  faint  grayish  or  lavender  shell-markings,  or  both;  shape,  a 
short  ovate,  size  1.90  x  1.55. 

The  Broad-winged  Hawk  is  distinctly  beneficial,  feeding  on  small  mammals,  such 
as  mice  and  shrews;  also  on  small  reptiles,  frogs,  and  the  larvse  of  large  moths. 
They  are  seldom,  if  ever,  known  to  destroy  bird-life. 

Genus  Archibuteo  (Brehm) 
153.  Archibuteo  lagopus  sancti-johannis  (GmeL~).    ROUGH-LEGGED  HAWK. 

Description. — Chiefly  whitish,  streaked  with  rusty,  but  varying  from  this  into  a  form  where 
the  plumage  is  entirely  black.  L.,  22.50;  W.,  16.00;  T.,  9.50. 

Range. — North  America  north  of  Mexico,  breeding  far  northward. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — Rare  transient  in  the  mountains. 


170  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Rough-legged  Hawk  was  recorded  by  Cairns  as  occasionally  seen  in  winter 
and  spring  in  Buncombe  County.  Besides  this,  our  only  record  is  from  Blowing 
Rock,  Watauga  County,  near  which  place  one  was  seen  September  10,  1908,  at 
close  range  with  an  opera-glass  by  Z.  P.  Metcalf.  He  states  that  this  individual 
was  of  very  dark  plumage. 


FIG.  129.     ROUGH-LEGGED  HAWK. 

Genus  Aquila  (Briss.) 
154.  Aquila  chrysaetos  (Linn.).    GOLDEN  EAGLE. 

Description. — Glossy  dark  brown,  head  and  neck  paler  tawny  brown.  Length  about  three 
feet,  spread  of  wings  nearly  seven  feet;  weight  seven  or  eight  pounds.  Easily  distinguished  when 
at  close  range  from  the  immature  Bald  Eagle  by  the  fact  that  feathers  grow  on  the  ankles  and 
feet  entirely  down  to  the  toes.  Its  bill  is  also  shorter.  L.,  30.00  to  35.00;  W.,  23.00  to  24.75. 

Range. — Northern  portions  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  America,  chiefly  in  mountainous  regions. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Mountainous  regions  of  the  State,  at  all  seasons;  rare  in  the  eastern 
section. 

The  Golden  Eagle,  which  is  perhaps  our  finest  bird  of  prey,  has  been  considered 
until  recently  as  confined  in  this  State  largely  to  the  mountains,  in  which  region 
Cairns  recorded  it  as  quite  common  for  so  large  a  bird.  The  State  Museum  received 
specimens  from  Cherokee  and  Swain  counties  in  1904  and  1911. 

As  tending  to  show  that  the  Golden  Eagle  is  not  as  exclusively  a  mountain  bird 
in  this  State  as  had  been  supposed,  the  following  notes  of  its  occurrence  in  the  east 
are  presented:  On  December  12,  1914,  the  State  Museum  received  one  in  the  flesh 
from  Captain  Haywood  Clark  of  Wilmington.  Inquiry  elicited  the  fact  that  the 
specimen  had  been  killed  a  day  or  two  before  by  Mr.  R.  A.  Cherry,  of  Speed,  N.  C., 
on  the  lands  of  the  Roanoke  and  Tar  River  Gun  Club,  in  Bertie  County.  Mr. 
Cherry  had  just  killed  a  Wild  Turkey  from  a  blind,  and  had  remained  in  the  blind 
in  the  hope  that  others  might  be  induced  to  come  within  shot.  Suddenly  this 
eagle  swooped  down  on  the  dead  Turkey  and  attempted  to  carry  it  off,  when  it  was 
promptly  killed  by  Mr.  Cherry. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  171 


A  live  Golden  Eagle  that  was  kept  in  Pullen  Park,  near  Raleigh,  for  years,  came 
originally — as  affirmed  by  Mr.  Howell,  the  park  keeper — from  Fender  County. 

This  species  presumably  builds  its  nest  on  the  cliffs  of  the  higher  mountains, 
but  we  have  no  record  of  eggs  or  eaglets  having  been  found  in  the  State.  The 
nests  are  bulky  structures  of  sticks  and  twigs,  usually  placed  on  some  exposed 
rocky  ledge,  but  sometimes  tall  trees  are  used  for  the  purpose.  The  eggs  are  gener- 
ally two  in  number  and  have  a  rough  shell,  which  is  of  a  dirty  white  ground-color, 
sometimes  without  markings  and  sometimes  blotched  and  spotted  with  various 
shades  of  brown.  Size  about  2.95  x  2.35. 


FIG.  130.       GOLDEN  EAGLE.  FIG.  131.       FOOT  OP  GOLDEN  EAGLE. 

Genus  Haliseetus  (Sav.) 
155.  Haliaeetus  leucocephalus  leucocephalus  (Linn.).    BALD  EAGLE. 

Description. — Dark  brown,  with  feathers  of  head  and  tail  white  in  adult,  whole  plumage  blackish 
with  white  mottlings  in  young  until  three  years  of  age.  Known  in  all  stages  from  the  Golden 
Eagle  by  the  tarsus  not  being  feathered.  Bill  in  adult  yellow;  in  immature,  plumage  black. 
L.,  33.00  to  36.00;  W.,  22.00  to  24.00;  spread  of  wings  about  7  ft. 

Range. — Whole  of  North  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State,  but  only  common  in  the  coastal  region;  rare  or  occa- 
sional elsewhere. 

The  Bald  Eagle,  our  National  emblem,  is  not  an  abundant  species  in  North  Caro- 
lina except  in  the  coast-country,  breeding  always,  so  far  as  we  have  observed,  near 
large  bodies  of  water.  Hatteras  Island  was  a  favorite  nesting  place  a  few  years 
ago,  before  the  sawmill  had  eaten  its  way  through  the  woods.  Residents  on  the 
island  speak  of  three  breeding  pairs,  and  Pearson  captured  two  young  there,  early 
in  May,  1898,  which  evidently  had  but  just  left  the  nest.  On  April  21,  1898,  he 
was  shown  a  nest  on  Roanoke  Island,  Dare  County,  from  which  a  young  bird  had 
recently  been  removed.  He  secured  the  eaglet  and  sent  it  to  the  State  Museum, 
where  it  was  kept  alive  for  many  months.  The  shores  of  Core  and  Currituck 
sounds  are  other  places  where  nests  have  more  or  less  recently  been  recorded. 
The  eggs  are  two  or  three  in  number,  dull  white,  and  are  deposited  in  a  nest  which 
is  often  four  or  five  feet  in  thickness.  The  same  eyrie  is  frequently  used  for  many 


172 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


years  in  succession.  Thus  a  nest  at  White  Lake  is  known  to  have  been  occupied 
in  1909,  1910,  and  1911.  It  is  in  a  tall,  living  pine,  with  a  dead  pine  of  like  size 
close  by,  the  latter  being  used  by  the  old  birds  as  a  lookout.  In  April,  1910,  H.  H. 
Brimley  observed  the  two  old  birds,  both  in  full  adult  plumage,  perched  on  the 
dead  tree  at  the  same  time,  with  another,  presumably  an  almost  grown  young  one, 
in  the  nest. 

Far  from  being  the  proud,  fierce,  and  noble  bird  which  popular  fancy  paints  as 
spending  its  time  in  screaming  for  liberty  and  trying  to  outstare  the  sun,  the  Bald 
Eagle  is  largely  a  carrion  feeder,  and  not  noted  for  its  ferocity.  It  feeds  more  on 
dead  fish  than  on  prey  caught  by  its  own  skill  and  boldness.  In  1899  Pearson  saw 
four  eagles  at  one  time  feasting  on  the  bodies  of  rays  left  by  fishermen  on  the 
beach  near  Fort  Macon.  In  winter,  where  any  considerable  amount  of  duck-shoot- 
ing goes  on,  one  or  more  eagles  are  usually  to  be  found  in  the  neighborhood  on  the 


FIG.  132.  BALD  EAGLE. 


FIG.  133.  FOOT  OF 
BALD  EAGLE. 


alert  for  crippled  fowl.  In  June,  1910,  a  large  alligator  had  been  killed  at  Lake 
Ellis,  and,  after  skinning,  its  remains  were  left  for  the  buzzards  to  clear  away. 
Next  morning,  on  approaching  the  spot,  several  Turkey  Vultures  and  one  eagle 
rose  from  the  carcass.  As  they  got  well  under  way  a  fearless  little  Kingbird  (Bee- 
Martin)  rushed  after  the  Bird  of  Freedom  and  literally  ran  it  out  of  the  country. 

A  few  years  ago  H.  H.  Brimley  had  one  confined  for  several  weeks  in  a  wire 
enclosure.  One  day  a  Red-headed  Woodpecker  was  put  in  the  same  cage.  The 
result  was  most  surprising,  for  the  woodpecker  immediately  attacked  the  head  of 
the  eagle  and  caused  the  great  bird  so  much  annoyance,  and  evidently  inspired  it 
with  so  much  terror,  that  in  mercy  the  fierce  woodpecker  was  removed. 

Bald  Eagles  may  occasionally  be  met  with  in  other  parts  of  the  State.  Thus 
Pearson  secured  an  immature  bird  in  Caswell  County  in  February,  1894,  and  saw 
one  at  Chapel  Hill,  Orange  County,  in  February,  1898.  C.  S.  Brimley  has  twice 


Plate   13 


DUCK     HAWK.      Falco  peregrinus  anatum    (Bonap.)      Male  and  Female. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  173 


observed  adult  Bald  Eagles  near  Raleigh,  and  the  State  Museum  has  specimens 
from  Cabarrus,  Wake,  and  Johnston  counties,  besides  a  number  from  the  east.  Mr. 
F.  P.  Latham,  of  Belhaven,  shot  one  in  February,  1914,  while  feeding  on  a  lamb  it 
had  killed.  On  the  authority  of  Cairns,  we  may  regard  it  as  a  rare  resident  in  the 
mountains. 

31.    FAMILY  FALCON1D>E.     THE   FALCONS  AND  CARACARAS 

This  family  contains  hawk-like  birds  with  long  pointed  wings,  possessing  remark- 
able powers  of  flight,  and  including  those  most  used  in  the  knightly  sport  of  fal- 
conry. 

Genus  Falco  (Linn.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Wing  more  than  12.00.     Duck  Hawk. 

1.  Wing  less  than  12.00.    See  2. 

2.  Back  bluish-gray  or  brown.     Pigeon  Hawk. 

2.  Back  tawny,  with  or  without  black  crossbars.    Sparrow  Hawk. 

156.  Falco  peregrinus  anatum  (Bonap.}.    DUCK  HAWK. 

Description. — Blackish  ash  above,  the  top  of  head  darker;  whitish  below;  cheeks  with  black 
patches;  underparts  very  dark,  feathers  margined  with  rufous,  in  young  barred  with  black. 
L.,  15.50  to  20.00;  W.,  12.50  to  14.00;  T.,  6.50  to  8.00. 

Range. — North  and  South  America,  breeding  locally. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  recorded  from  Buncombe  and  Surry  counties. 

The  Duck  Hawk,  the  American  representative  of  the  celebrated  Peregrine  Fal- 
con, the  "Falcon"  par  excellence  of  the  old  hawking  days,  is  a  rare  bird  in  the 
State,  as  in  fact  it  seems  to  be  in  many  other  parts  of  the  country. 

In  the  Ornithologist  and  Oologist  for  February,  1889,  Cairns  writes  of  one  which 
he  saw  carry  off  a  chicken  near  Asheville.  He  further  states  that  it  is  "seen  occa- 
sionally during  the  summer  months."  Pearson  found  a  pair  haunting  the  crags 
of  the  "pinnacle"  of  Pilot  Mountain,  Surry  County,  in  May,  1892,  but  a  diligent 
search  failed  to  reveal  a  nest  on  any  of  the  accessible  cliffs. 

The  eggs  are  laid  on  cliffs,  little  if  any  nest  being  constructed,  and  are  generally 
four  in  number,  often  so  heavily  marked  as  to  conceal  the  ground-color.  Size 
2.10  x  1.60. 

Bendire,  in  Life  Histories  of  North  American  Birds,  says:  "Its  flight,  when 
once  fairly  started  in  pursuit  of  its  quarry,  is  amazingly  swift;  it  is  seemingly  an 
easy  matter  for  it  to  overtake  even  the  fleetest  of  birds,  and  when  once  in  its  grasp 
resistance  is  useless.  I  have  seen  this  falcon  strike  a  Cinnamon  Teal  almost  within 
gunshot  of  me,  kill  it,  apparently  instantly,  from  the  force  of  the  shock,  and  fly 
away  with  it  as  easily  and  without  visible  struggle  as  if  it  had  been  a  sparrow 
instead  of  a  bird  of  its  own  weight." 

157.  Falco  columbarius  columbarius  (Linn.).    PIGEON  HAWK. 

Description. — Adult  male  bluish  gray  above;  adult  female  and  young  brownish  above;  tail 
barred  with  black  above  in  male,  with  lighter  in  female  and  young.  Underparts  whitish  or  buffy, 
streaked  with  dusky.  L.,  11.00  to  13.00;  W.,  7.30  to  8.30;  T.,  5.00  to  6.00. 

Range. — Whole  of  North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Known  only  as  an  occasional  transient  at  Raleigh  and  in  Buncombe 
County. 


174 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Pigeon  Hawk  appears  to  be  a  rare  transient  in  this  State,  our  only  records 
being  October  1,  1886;  April  21  and  23,  1888;  April  19,  1902;  September  2,  1910; 
and  October  4,  1914,  all  from  Raleigh,  a  single  specimen  being  taken  on  each  date. 
Cairns  secured  a  female  in  Buncombe  County  on  October  19,  1894. 


FIG.  134.     PIGEON  HAWK. 

158.  Falco  sparverius  sparverius  (Linn.}.    SPARROW  HAWK. 

Description. — Male,  back  tawny,  wings  bluish  and  black,  tail  chestnut  with  a  broad  black 
band  near  tip,  below  whitish  or  tawny.  Female  with  back  and  wing-coverts  rusty,  barred  with 
black;  tail  tawny,  with  several  black  bars.  L.,  10.00;  W.,  7.25;  T.,  4.75. 

Range. — North  and  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State,  apparently  resident. 


FIG.  135.     SPARROW  HAWK. 


The  handsome  little  Sparrow  Hawk  is  a  common  bird  throughout  the  State  and 
occurs  at  all  seasons,  but  appears  to  be  much  less  in  evidence  during  the  summer 
months.  Cairns  stated  that  in  Buncombe  County  it  bred  in  April  and  May.  Pear- 
son found  a  nest  with  four  eggs  May  10,  1902,  at  Greensboro.  This  was  in  the 
hollow  of  a  living  oak  tree,  near  the  Greensboro  Female  College  and  within  fifteen 
feet  of  a  railway.  He  also  recorded  a  nest  found  at  Chapel  Hill  in  May,  1898, 
which  held  three  fresh  eggs.  C.  S.  Brimley  on  May  31,  1913,  saw  a  pair  appar- 
ently nesting  in  the  hollow  of  a  dead  tree  at  Sunburst,  Haywood  County. 

Although  feeding  occasionally  on  small  birds,  and  more  frequently  on  mice  and 
lizards,  it  confines  itself  mainly  to  insects,  especially  the  easily  procured  grass- 
hoppers. 


N.  C.  GEOLOGICAL  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY. 


PLATE  E. 


1.   One   type   of   Fish    Hawk's   nest.      Great   Lake,    Craven   County.      Built   in   a   small 
cypress,  at  a  low  elevation. 

(Photo  by  H.  H.  Brimley.) 


2.  A  very  neat,  symmetrical  Fish  Hawk's  nest,  also  on  Great 
Lake.  Old  bird  just  alighting  on  nest.  As  the  bird  is  about  two 
feet  in  length,  with  a  wing  spread  of  about  five  feet,  some  idea  of 
the  size  of  the  nest  may  be  gathered. 

(Photo  by  H.  H.  Brimley.) 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  175 


This  bird  nests  in  hollow  trees,  using  little  if  any  lining  to  the  hole.  The  eggs 
ar  e  four  or  five  in  number,  of  a  creamy  white  ground-color,  variously  marked  with 
•different  shades  of  brown.  Size  1.38  x  1.11. 

32.    FAMILY  PANDIONID/E.      OSPREYS 

Genus  Pandion  (Sav.) 
159.  Pandion  haliseetus  carolinensis  (Gmel.).    OSPREY. 

Description. — -Dark  brown  above,  tail  grayish  with  narrow  black  bars;  head,  neck,  and  lower 
parts  mostly  white:  sides  of  head  with  a  dark  stripe;  female  with  breast  more  heavily  spotted 
than  male.  L.,  23.00;  W.,  18.00;  T.,  8.50.  Extent  of  wings  about  5  ft. 

Range. — North  and  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  common  on  the  coast,  rare  elsewhere. 

The  Osprey  or  Fish  Hawk  is  a  common  bird  along  our  coast,  but  inland  appears 
to  be  only  a  transient,  occurring  at  Raleigh  from  late  March  to  early  May,  and 
.also  in  August.  Cairns  recorded  it  from  Buncombe  County  in  April,  and  Pearson 
from  Guilford  County  in  May,  1900. 

Along  our  coast-line,  where  water  conditions  are  favorable,  the  Osprey  breeds 
plentifully.  While  a  number  of  scattered  nests  have  come  under  our  observation, 
two  bodies  of  water  stand  out  preeminently  as  nesting  places  for  this  bird.  Around 
the  borders  of  Great  Lake,  in  Craven  County,  twenty-five  or  thirty  pairs  annually 
rear  their  young.  On  the  rice  reserve  pond  on  the  Orton  plantation,  in  Brunswick 
County,  there  is  another  colony  of  not  less  than  thirty-five  pairs  of  breeding  birds. 

At  one  end  of  Orton  pond  are  many  stumps  and  dead  cypress  trunks.  Some  of 
these  are  mere  shells,  for  standing  cypress  wood  will  withstand  more  years  of 
weather  than  any  one  man  can  remember.  On  these  stumps  are  placed  many  of 
the  Osprey  nests.  A  few  are  so  low  that  the  contents  may  be  seen  by  standing 
in  a  boat.  More  are  from  eight  to  twenty  feet  above  the  water,  and  a  few  of  those 
•on  the  shore-line  are  as  high  as  thirty  feet  or  over.  A  few  are  found  on  living 
cypresses,  either  standing  in  the  water  or  on  shore. 

On  Great  Lake  the  nests  are  nearly  all  placed  in  cypresses  standing  in  the  water. 
One  is  in  a  pine  on  shore.  Of  the  hundred  and  more  Osprey  nests  observed  by  us 
in  North  Carolina  during  the  past  few  years,  probably  nine-tenths  were  built  over 
the  water.  In  fact,  this  seems  to  be  always  the  case  where  the  birds  nest  in  colo- 
nies. The  trees  chosen  sometimes  stand  back  a  half  mile  or  more  from  water,  but 
in  such  instances  there  appears  never  to  be  more  than  one  nest  in  a  neighborhood. 

The  nests  are  enormous  structures,  added  to  from  year  to  year  until  some  of 
them  look  as  if  they  would  fill  the  body  of  an  ordinary  farm  cart.  The  Osprey  is 
&  rather  early  nester,  the  young  often  being  hatched  late  in  April  or  in  early  May. 

The  diet  of  this  bird  is  exclusively  fish  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  Its  food 
during  the  nesting  period  seems  to  consist  principally  of  menhaden,  which  the 
old  birds  in  many  instances  must  travel  at  least  ten  miles  to  catch.  When  fish- 
ing, the  Osprey  hovers  for  a  moment  and  then  darts  downward  with  a  headlong 
plunge  that  throws  the  spray  high  in  air.  The  fish  is  always  carried  head  first  in 
the  talons  of  the  bird.  The  Bald  Eagle  often  appears  and  takes  without  apology 
or  explanation  the  captured  fish. 


FIG.  136.     OSPKEY. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


177 


A  curious  habit  of  the  Osprey  is  that  of  "  foot-washing."  From  flapping  in  wide 
circles  over  the  lake  a  bird  may  be  seen  suddenly  to  half  close  its  wings  and  glide 
toward  the  water  in  a  long,  gentle  sweep.  When  almost  touching  the  surface,  the 
feet  are  dropped  to  the  full  extent  of  the  long  legs  and  a  horizontal  flight  of  fifteen 
or  twenty  yards  follows,  while  the  feet  drag  in  the  water.  The  reason  for  this 
action  is  doubtless  to  cleanse  the  toes  and  claws  of  the  fish-slime  that  must  neces- 
sarily accumulate  on  them. 

33.    FAMILY  ALUCONID./E.      BARN  OWLS 

Genus  Aluco  (Flem.) 
160.  Aluco  pratincola  (Bonap.}.    BARN  OWL. 

Description. — Various  shades  of  tawny,  very  finely  mottled,  dotted  and  streaked  with  darker; 
underparts  white  or  light  tawny  with  some  spotting.  L.,  18.00;  W.,  13.25;  T.,  5.75.  Known 
from  our  other  owls  by  the  long  face  and  nearly  naked  legs. 

Range. — United  States  and  Mexico. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Known  to  occur  from  Davidson  County  to  the  coast. 


Fia.  137.     BARN  OWL. 

The  Barn  Owl,  also  known  as  "  Monkey-faced  Owl,"  does  not  seem  to  be  a  com- 
mon bird  in  any  part  of  the  State,  and  so  far  we  have  records  of  its  occurrence 
only  from  Davidson,  Alamance,  Wake,  Craven,  Carteret,  Cumberland,  Brunswick, 
Pamlico,  Guilford,  Randolph,  Bladen,  and  Dare  counties.  Nearly  all  the  specimens 
were  taken  in  winter,  the  only  exceptions  being  one  caught  at  Thomasville  in  June, 
1910;  one  killed  at  New  Bern,  March  12,  1912;  and  one  caught  alive  in  a  steel 
trap  in  Bladen  County,  March  14,  1902.  All  three  were  sent  to  the  State  Museum. 
In  spite  of  this  lack  of  information,  there  is  little  doubt  that  it  is  a  permanent 

12 


178  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


resident  in  North  Carolina,  as  it  is  known  to  breed  to  the  north  and  south  of  us. 
Pearson  found  a  nest  with  four  eggs  in  a  rice  mill  on  Cat  Island,  South  Carolina, 
April  1,  1907  (Auk,  Vol.  25,  p.  316). 

The  food  of  this  owl  consists  almost  entirely  of  various  rats  and  mice,  as  well 
as  other  small  animals,  and  much  more  rarely  of  small  birds.  In  common  with  other 
owls,  it  hunts  at  night  and  its  flight  is  noiseless,  thus  enabling  it  to  approach  its 
prey  with  ease. 

It  nests  in  hollow  trees,  the  belfries  of  churches,  seldom  used  towers,  and  in 
similar  places.  The  eggs  are  pure  white,  unmarked,  and  are  usually  from  five  to 
seven  in  number. 

This  is  a  most  interesting  and  harmless  owl,  and  deserves  to  be  protected  on 
account  of  its  services  in  destroying  rats  and  mice;  instead  of  which  it  is  usually 
shot  on  sight  as  a  curiosity. 

34.    FAMILY  STRIGID>E.     OWLS 

This  family  contains  most  of  the  owls.  The  representatives  possess  large,  round 
heads,  with  comparatively  short  faces,  surrounded  by  a  more  or  less  complete  disk 
of  radiating  feathers.  Most  of  the  species  are  strictly  nocturnal,  though  a  few 
hunt  their  prey  in  the  daytime. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Eye  in  the  center  of  a  nearly  complete  circular  disk  of  feathers;  external  ear  larger  then  eye. 
See  2. 

1.  Eye  nearer  top  than  bottom  of  more  or  less  incomplete  disk;  external  ear  not  larger  than  eye; 

eyes  yellow.     See  4. 

2.  Ear-tufts  present,  sometimes  very  short;  cere  longer  than  rest  of  culmen;  eyes  yellow.    Asio. 

2.  Ear-tufts  not  evident;  cere  short.     See  3. 

3.  Wing  12  or  more;  eyes  dark  brown.     Strix. 

3.  Wing  less  than  8;  eyes  yellow.     Cryptoglaux. 

4.  Head  without  distinct  ear-tufts,  plumage  chiefly  white.     Nyctea. 

4.  Head  with  conspicuous  ear-tufts.     See  5. 

5.  Length  about  22.     Bubo. 
5.  Length  about  10.     Otus. 

Genus  Asio  (Briss.) 

This  genus  is  composed  of  owls  with  more  or  less  developed  ear-tufts,  and  with 
the  external  ears  enormously  large.  The  ear-tufts  are  near  together  on  each  side 
of  the  base  of  the  bill,  instead  of  being  far  apart  on  the  outer  side  of  the  head,  as 
in  the  Great  Horned  Owl  and  Screech  Owl. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Ear-tufts   conspicuous;  color  darker,  barred  and  striped  below.     Long-eared  Owl. 
1.  Ear-tufts  rudimentary;  color  lighter,  striped  below.     Short-eared  Owl. 

161.  Asio  wilsonianus  (Less.).    LONG-EARED  OWL. 

Description. — Dusky,  more  or  less  mottled  and  streaked  with  buffy  and  grayish;  much  varie- 
gated below.  L.,  14.00;  W.,  12.00;  T.,  6.00. 

Range. — Temperate  North  America,  breeding  from  Virginia  northward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Probably  entire  State,  but  so  far  only  known  from  Wake,  Guil- 
ford  and  Buncombe  counties  in  winter. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


179 


The  Long-eared  Owl,  which  in  general  appearance  somewhat  suggests  a  small 
Great  Horned  Owl,  has  been  taken  at  Raleigh  in  various  years  in  December  and 
January.  On  February  24,  1910,  a  specimen,  with  sexual  organs  well  developed, 
was  shot  at  Caraleigh  Mills,  Wake  County.  As  this  species  breeds  in  March,  and 
is  said  to  be  wTholly  nocturnal  and  very  quiet  and  unobtrusive,  it  is  quite  possible 
that  it  is  a  rare  summer  resident  with  us. 


FIG.  138.     LONG-EARED  OWL. 


We  have  only  two  other  records  from  the  State.  One  was  a  bird  taken  by  Cairns 
near  Asheville  in  November,  1889,  and  the  second  was  brought  to  Pearson  by  a 
farmer  at  Greensboro  in  December,  1901. 

This  species,  unlike  most  owls,  does  not  nest  in  hollow  trees,  but  in  the  disused 
nests  of  crows  or  hawks,  which  it  repairs  and  lines  afresh.  The  eggs  are  white, 
like  those  of  all  owls,  and  are  usually  from  three  to  six  in  number. 


162.  Asio  flammeus  (Pont.}.    SHORT-EARED  OWL. 

Description. — Buffy  whitish,  striped  with  dark  brown,  the  stripes  narrower  below. 
W.,  12.00;  T.,  6.25. 

Range. — Nearly  the  whole  world,  except  Australia. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter. 


L.,  15.00; 


The  Short-eared  Owl  is  not  infrequently  met  with  in  our  State  in  winter,  a 
number  of  specimens  having  been  taken  from  early  November  to  February,  in  the 
counties  of  Buncombe,  Carteret,  Craven,  Guilford,  and  Wake. 

This  species  is  especially  fond  of  field  rats  and  mice,  and  consequently,  unlike 
most  owls,  it  frequents  open  fields,  meadows,  and  marshes  rather  than  dense  woods. 


180  BIRDS  or  NORTH  CAROLINA 


It  is  not  exclusively  nocturnal,  and  on  cloudy  days  may  often  be  found  abroad.    It 
roosts  on  the  ground. 

On  account  of  the  number  of  rats  and  mice  which  it  destroys  it  is  well  worthy 
of  the  fullest  protection. 


w 

FIG.  139.     SHORT-EARED  OWL. 

Genus  Strix  (Linn.) 
163.  Strix  varia  varia  (Barton).    BARRED  OWL;  "HOOT  OWL." 

Description. — Olive  brown,  barred  with  whitish  above;  breast  barred,  belly  streaked.  L.,  19.00; 
W.,  13.00;  T.,  8.50. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons. 

The  Barred  Owl  is  a  common  resident  throughout  the  State,  and  early  in  spring 
before  nesting  begins,  it  may  frequently  be  heard  hooting  even  in  the  daytime.  It 
becomes  quite  noisy  again  later  in  the  year  when  the  young  have  left  the  nest.  Its 
favorite  haunts  are  wooded  lowlands. 

The  eggs  are  laid  in  the  hollows  of  trees,  no  nest  being  constructed.  The  nesting 
season  at  Raleigh  appears  to  be  in  March  or  early  April.  The  eggs  are  usually 
two  in  number,  and,  like  all  owl's  eggs,  are  pure  white. 

Like  most  species  of  hawks  and  owls,  it  feeds  mainly  on  various  kinds  of  rats 
and  mice,  occasionally  killing  birds,  and  still  less  often  robbing  the  farmer's  poultry- 
yard.  However,  as  farmers  generally  keep  their  chickens  under  cover  at  night,  the 
hen  roost  is  seldom  disturbed  by  the  Barred  Owl. 

It  is  probable  that  the  owls  of  this  species  found  in  summer  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
State  may,  upon  closer  study,  prove  to  be  the  southern  variety  known  as  the  Florida  Barred 
Owl,  Strix  varia  alleni  (Ridgw.). 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


181 


FIG.   140.     BARRED  OWL. 


Genus  Cryptoglaux  (Richm.) 

164.  Cryptoglaux  acadica  acadica  (Gmel.).    SAW-WHET  OWL. 

Description. — Brown  above,  more  or  less  spotted  with  white;  white  below,  striped  with  brown. 
L.,  8.00;  W.,  5.50;  T.,  3.00. 

Range. — 'Northern  North  America,  south  in  winter  to  the  Carolinas  and  Louisiana. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  taken  in  Wake  and  Craven  counties,  but  probably 
occurs  sparingly  throughout  the  State  in  winter. 

The  Saw-whet  Owl,  which  on  account  of  its  small  size  cannot  be  confounded 
with  any  other  species,  has  been  taken  at  Raleigh  on  three  occasions,  viz.,  December 
18,  1894;  December  4,  1897,  and  early  in  December,  1910.  A  mounted  specimen, 
said  to  have  been  taken  in  Craven  County,  was  exhibited  at  the  New  Bern  Fish 
and  Oyster  Fair  in  February,  1892. 

Genus  Otus  (Penn.) 

165.  Otus  asio  asio  (Linn.}.    SCREECH  OWL. 

Description. — Grayish,  much  streaked  and  barred,  or  else  with  the  gray  replaced  by  bright 
rufous,  the  two  color  phases  bearing  no  relation  to  age,  sex,  or  season.    L.,  9.00;  W.,  6.25;  T.,  3.00. 
Range. — Eastern  North  America. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons. 

The  Screech  Owl  is  undoubtedly  our  most  abundant  representative  of  the  owl 
family,  and  is  an  interesting  little  creature  at  all  times.  In  summer,  when  drowsing 
away  the  daytime  in  a  thicket,  it  is  not  infrequently  discovered  by  some  inquisitive 


182  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


small  bird,  which  at  once  notifies  all  the  birds  in  the  neighborhood,  and  soon  we 
may  find  titmice,  wrens,  vireos,  warblers,  and  jays  gathered  about  it  and  displaying 
great  excitement  by  their  actions  and  cries.  On  such  occasions,  the  Screech  Owl 
frequently  sits  for  a  time  apparently  unmoved,  with  head  stretched  upward  and 
feathers  drawn  tightly  against  its  body,  presenting  on  the  whole  a  most  unbird- 
like  appearance.  It  does  not  seem  to  see  well  in  the  daylight,  and  its  flight  is  then 
always  uncertain,  and  merely  to  take  it  to  a  fresh  place  of  refuge. 

Every  one  who  learns  "the  noises  of  the  night"  knows  its  quavering,  shivering 
cry,  which  may  be  heard  even  in  our  most  populous  towns.  This  species  nests  in 
hollow  trees  or  stumps,  often  appropriating  the  disused  nest  of  the  Flicker.  The 
eggs  vary  from  three  to  five  in  number,  and  are  deposited  usually  in  April. 

The  food  of  the  Screech  Owl  consists  in  part  of  rats  and  mice.  It  will,  how- 
ever, occasionally  kill  birds,  even  those  larger  than  itself. 

As  we  have  collected  no  specimens  of  this  species  in  the  lower  coast  counties,  we  have  been 
unable  to  determine  the  character  of  the  birds  found  there.  They  are,  perhaps,  Florida  Screech 
Owls,  Otus  asio  floridanus  (Ridgw.). 

Genus  Bubo  (Dumeril) 
166.  Bubo  virginianus  virginianus  (GmeL).    GREAT  HORNED  OWL. 

Description:  Ads. — Size  large;  ear-tufts  conspicuous,  nearly  two  inches  in  length;  upperparts 
mottled  with  varying  shades  of  ochraceous-buff  and  black;  facial  disk  ochraceous-buff;  ear-tufts 
black  and  ochraceous-buff;  a  white  patch  on  the  throat,  rest  of  the  underparts  ochraceous-buff, 
barred  with  black;  legs  and  feet  feathered;  eyes  yellow.  o*  L.,  22.00;  W.,  15.00;  T.,  8.50;  B.,. 
1.60.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range  (including  subspecies). — Greater  part  of  North  and  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons. 

This,  the  largest  and  fiercest  of  our  owls,  is  found  in  all  parts  of  North  Caro- 
lina. Being  of  a  wary  nature,  and  capable  of  seeing  well  in  the  daytime,  it  is  not 
very  often  that  it  allows  one  the  privilege  of  a  near  approach. 

It  seems  a  pity  that  so  handsome  a  bird  should  have  such  a  thoroughly  bad 
reputation.  It  preys  indiscriminately  on  many  forms  of  wild  life,  such  as  rabbits, 
grouse,  partridges,  and  even  turkeys.  Chickens  roosting  in  trees  at  times  fall  vic- 
tims to  its  rapacity,  and  it  has  been  recorded  that  where  food  is  plentiful  it  often 
eats  only  the  heads  of  its  victims.  Scarcely  any  bird  or  animal  of  its  own  weight 
is  safe  from  this  nocturnal  woodland  hunter.  Keen  of  sight,  powerful  of  bill  and 
talon,  and  with  a  wonderful  courage,  the  Great  Horned  Owl  noiselessly  hunts  the 
open  glades  and  woodland  fastnesses  as  twilight  drops  over  the  land.  Even  the 
beautiful  but  odorous  skunk  is  not  safe  from  this  owl's  rapacity.  Dr.  C.  Hart 
Merriam  states:  "I  have  known  one  to  kill  and  decapitate  three  turkeys  and  sev- 
eral hens  in  a  single  night."  Dr.  P.  R.  Hoy  (extract  from  quotation)  in  Fisher's 
Hawks  and  Owls  of  the  United  States  says:  "The  specimen  in  the  collection  of 
the  Academy  was  known  to  carry  off  from  one  farm,  in  the  space  of  a  month,  not 
less  than  twenty-seven  individuals  of  various  kinds  of  poultry  before  it  was  shot." 

Sometimes  a  pigeon  house  will  be  selected  and  a  heavy  toll  levied  on  the  inmates 
before  the  destroyer  can  be  captured.  Rabbits,  however,  seem  to  be  its  favorite- 
food,  and  large  numbers  must  be  destroyed  where  these  owls  are  plentiful. 


Plate    14 


SCREECH    OWL.     Otus  asio  asio   (Linn.)     Red  and  gray  phases. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


183 


The  male  is  smaller  than  the  female,  and  is  occasionally  killed  and  eaten  by  her. 

The  Great  Horned  Owl  nests  in  hollow  trees,  or,  as  is  often  the  case,  in  the  old 
nest  of  hawks  or  eagles.  The  eggs  are  two  or  three  in  number,  pure  white,  and  in 
this  State  are  usually  laid  in  February.  Size  2.25  x  1.90.  On  January  21,  1899, 


FIG.  141.     GREAT  HORNED  OWL. 


Pearson  secured  from  a  gunner  at  Chapel  Hill  a  freshly  killed  female  Great  Horned 
Owl  which,  upon  examination,  was  found  to  contain  two  well-developed,  ovarian 
eggs. 

Because  of  its  large  yellow  eyes  and  conspicuous  ear-tufts,  it  is  sometimes  known 
as  the  "Cat  Owl." 


184  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Genus  Nyctea  (Steph.) 
167.  Nyctea  nyctea  (Linn.).    SNOWY  OWL. 

Description. — -Pure  white,  more  or  less  barred  with  dusky,  the  markings  much  more  extensive 
iif  the  female.  L.,  23.00  to  27.00;  W.,  17.25  to  18.75;  T.,  9.75  to  10.25. 

Range. — Northern  parts  of  Northern  Hemisphere,  in  winter  straggling  to  North  Carolina 
Louisiana,  etc. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Occasional  in  winter  in  all  parts  of  the  State. 


FIG.  142.     FOOT  OF  A  SNOWY  OWL. 

The  beautiful  Snowy  Owl  is  only  a  very  irregular  winter  visitor  with  us;  still, 
we  have  records  of  its  occurrence  in  all  three  divisions  of  the  State.  In  the  eastern 
section,  one  was  taken  on  December  4,  1897,  by  W.  E.  Stone  in  Hyde  County,  and 
is  now  in  the  State  Museum  at  Raleigh.  A  second  specimen  in  the  Museum  came 
from  Granville  County,  in  the  middle  section,  and  was  captured  on  January  7, 
1902.  Another  was  taken  in  Nash  County  in  late  November,  1909,  and  in  1894 
there  was  a  mounted  specimen  in  a  barroom  in  Greensboro  that  had  been  shot  in 
Guilford  County  during  the  previous  winter.  We  have  Cairns's  statement  that  he 
had  often  heard  of  these  owls  being  seen  not  far  from  Weaverville,  in  the  moun- 
tains, and  once  had  personally  observed  one. 

Though  appearing  larger  than  the  Great  Horned  Owl,  it  is  really  a  smaller 
bodied  bird.  It  is  a  keen,  persistent  hunter,  and  destroys  many  small  birds  and 
mammals.  As  the  principal  home  of  this  bird  is  in  far  northern  latitudes,  we  need 
have  little  fear  of  its  depredations. 

THE  CAROLINA  PAROQUET,  Conuropsis  carolinensis  (Linn.),  was  once  found  in  great  numbers 
in  North  Carolina.  We  have  no  definite  records  of  its  occurring  here,  however,  since  Catesby's 
record  in  1731  (Natural  History  of  Carolina,  Florida,  and  the  Bahama  Islands).  It  was  last  noted 
from  South  Carolina  in  1851,  and  there  is  a  West  Tennessee  record  as  late  as  1876.  Formerly 
it  wandered  over  the  State  in  flocks,  feeding  upon  the  seeds  of  the  cockle-burr,  thistle,  and  other 
plants. 

The  Carolina  Paroquet  belongs  to  the  order  Psittaci — -parrots. 

XIII.  ORDER  COCCYGES.     CUCKOOS,  KINGFISHERS,  ETC. 

This  order  is  composed  of  a  number  of  quite  diverse  families,  mostly  with  the 
toes  either  two  in  front  and  two  behind,  or  with  the  outer  and  middle  toes  united 
for  half  their  length. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  185 


KEY  TO  FAMILIES 

1.  Toes  2  in  front,  2  behind.    The  Cuckoos  (Family  Cuculidoe). 

1.  Toes  3  in  front,  1  behind,  the  outer  and  middle  toes  united  for  half  their  length;  head  crested. 
Kingfishers  (Family  Alcedinidce). 

35.    FAMILY  CUCULID>E.     CUCKOOS 

These  are  birds  with  the  toes  two  in  front  and  two  behind.  Many  of  the  species 
have  more  or  less  abnormal  nesting  habits,  the  European  Cuckoo  (Cuculus  canorus) 
laying  its  eggs  in  the  nests  of  other  birds,  like  our  Cowbird,  while  in  the  case  of 
some  other  species,  several  birds  build  one  large  nest  in  which  to  lay  their  eggs. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Bill  almost  as  high  as  long;  plumage  black.     Crotophaga. 

1.  Bill  more  than  twice  as  long  as  high;  plumage  brownish.     Coccyzus. 

Genus  Crotophaga  (Linn.) 

168.  Crotophaga  ani  (Linn.).    THE  ANI. 

Description. — Entirely  black,  bluish  reflections  on  wings  and  tail.  Bill  very  heavy,  nearly  as 
high  as  long.  L.,  12.00  to  15.00;  W.,  5.50  to  6.00;  T.,  7.50  to  8.25. 

Range. — West  Indies  and  Eastern  South  America,  rare  in  Louisiana  and  southern  Florida. 
Occasionally  accidental  farther  north. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Once  taken  near  Edenton. 

The  Ani,  Black  Witch,  or  Savannah  Blackbird,  obtains  a  place  in  this  catalogue 
through  one  having  been  taken  near  Edenton,  August  23,  1866,  and  donated  to 
the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Natural  Science,  where  the  specimen  is  still  in  exist- 
ence. (W.  W.  Cooke,  in  letter  of  June  29,  1908.) 

This  species  has  the  curious  habit  of  several  females  uniting  to  build  a  common 
nest  in  which  all  their  eggs  are  laid  together. 

Genus  Coccyzus  (Vieill.) 

This  comprises  species  with  a  slender,  gently  decurved  bill,  long  wings,  and  a 
long,  graduated  tail. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Tail-feathers,  except  middle  pair,  mostly  black,  broadly  tipped  with  white;  basal  half  of 

lower  mandible  yellow.     Yellow-billed  Cuckoo. 
1.  Tail-feathers  grayish  brown,  except  middle  pair,  narrowly  tipped  with  white.     No  yellow 

on  bill.     Black-billed  Cuckoo. 

169.  Coccyzus  americanus  americanus  (Linn.).    YELLOW-BILLED  CUCKOO. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  brownish  gray  with  slight  greenish  gloss;  most  of  the  wing- 
feathers  rufous,  except  at  the  tip;  outer  tail-feathers  black,  conspicuously  tipped  with  white, 
which  extends  down  the  outer  vane  of  the  outer  feather;  underparts  dull  whitish;  bill  black,  the 
lower  mandible  yellow  except  at  the  tip.  L.,  12.20;  W.,  5.70;  T.,  6.20;  B.  from  N.,  .76.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  winters  in  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer. 

The  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo,  more  commonly  known  as  "Rain-crow,"  is  a  common 
summer  resident  throughout  the  State,  arriving  late  in  April  or  early  in  May. 
Some  individuals  remain  until  late  October. 


186  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


This  is  a  bird  much  better  known  by  sound  than  sight.  Nearly  every  one  has 
heard  the  keow-keow-keow  of  the  Rain-crow,  but  few  people  recognize  the  long, 
slim  bird  that  makes  the  noise,  some  even  attributing  the  note  to  a  tree-frog.  Curi- 
ously enough,  while  the  main  food  of  the  Cuckoo  is  insects,  it  also  eats  tree-frogs. 
C.  S.  Brimley  has  twice  taken  individuals  that  had  their  head  feathers  caked  with 
the  slimy  secretions  of  the  frog.  This  is  also  one  of  the  very  few  birds  that  eats 
hairy  caterpillars,  which  most  other  birds  avoid.  Pearson  once  watched  a  Cuckoo 
eat  nineteen  of  these  in  a  period  of  five  minutes. 


FIG.  143.  YELLOW-BILLED  CUCKOO. 

The  nest  is  a  rude  platform  of  twigs,  dead  leaves,  andjsometimes  moss,  placed 
in  a  small  tree  or  bush  at  a  height  of  from  five  to  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground. 
The  eggs  are  two  to  four  in  number,  and  are  laid  at  intervals  of  from  two  to  five 
days,  so  that  when  the  first  egg  hatches,  the  nest  is  often  found  to  contain  also  an 
incubated  egg,  and  one  that  has  been  but  freshly  laid.  The  eggs  are  glaucous  green 
in  color,  and  average  in  size  1.27  x  .89.  The  breeding  season  is  from  May  to 
August,  inclusive. 

170.  Coccyzus  erythrophthalmus  (Wils.).    BLACK-BILLED  CUCKOO. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  grayish  brown  with  a  slight  green  gloss;  wings  and  tail  the 
same,  the  latter  narrowly  tipped  with  white;  underparts  dull  white;  bill  black.  L.,  11.83;  W., 
5.50;  T.,  6.26;  B.  from  N.,  .74. 

Remarks. — This  species  is  to  be  distinguished  from  the  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo  chiefly  by  the 
absence  of  rufous  in  the  wings,  black  in  the  tail,  and  yellow  in  the  lower  mandible.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Breeds  in  the  United  States  from  North  Carolina  northward;  winters  in  South 
America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  probably  breeding  wherever  found;  much 
scarcer  than  the  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo. 

The  Black-billed  Cuckoo,  often  confused  in  the  popular  mind  with  the  preceding 
species,  and  likewise  called  "Rain-crow,"  does  not  seem  to  be  as  common  a  bird  in 
the  State  as  the  Yellow-billed.  In  the  mountains  Cairns  recorded  it  as  some  years 
common  and  others  almost  wholly  absent.  At  Raleigh  it  occurs  as  a  rare  summer 
resident.  A  male  was  taken  there  on  July  8,  1892,  and  a  female  with  an  egg  ready 
for  laying  was  secured  by  C.  S.  Brimley  on  July  15,  1886.  It  is  quite  rare,  and 
has  been  detected  breeding  there  but  once.  At  Lake  Ellis  it  was  common  in  late 
May,  1908,  but  whether  the  birds  were  migrants  or  summer  visitors  was  not  deter- 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


187 


minable.  In  Bertie  County  a  nest  with  three  eggs  was  taken  by  R.  P.  Smithwick, 
May  17,  1896.  The  only  specimen  which  Pearson  ever  noted  at  Greensboro  was 
one  which  flew  into  his  lecture-room  at  the  State  Normal  and  Industrial  College, 
early  in  May,  1901.  After  having  been  captured  and  positively  identified,  the  bird 
was  given  its  freedom. 

In  nesting  habits  it  is  similar  to  the  preceding  species  and  the  eggs  are  much 
like  those  of  the  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo. 


FIG.  144.   BLACK-BILLED  CUCKOO. 
36.   FAMILY  ALCEDINID>E.        KINGFISHERS 

These  are  birds  with  large  crested  heads,  short  legs,  and  with  the  middle  and 
outer  toes  usually  united  for  half  their  length.  Most  of  the  species  are  skillful 
catchers  of  fish,  and  live  along  streams  or  about  the  shores  of  ponds  and  lakes. 

Genus  Ceryle  (Boie) 
171.  Ceryle  alcyon  alcyon  (Linn.}.    BELTED  KINGFISHER. 

Description. — Ashy  blue  above,  a  bluish  band  across  breast,  otherwise  white  below;  female 
with  sides  and  band  across  lower  breast  chestnut;  tail  black,  speckled  and  barred  with  white. 
L.,  12.50;  W.,  6.00;  T.,  3.75. 

Range. — North  America  and  northern  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State,  resident  in  middle  and  eastern  sections,  apparently 
only  a  summer  visitor  in  the  mountains. 


FIG.   145.     BELTED  KINGFISHER. 


FIG.   146.     FOOT  OF  BELTED 
KINGFISHER. 


188  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Kingfisher  is  a  somewhat  common  bird  wherever  open  water  is  found.  In 
the  mountains  it  appears  to  be  only  a  summer  visitor,  arriving  in  late  March  or 
early  April,  transients  at  that  season  being  known  also  at  Raleigh  and  Statesville. 

As  its  name  implies,  it  is  an  ardent  lover  of  fish,  in  the  pursuit  of  which  it  plunges 
headlong  into  the  water.  Frequently  after  such  a  plunge  the  bird  may  be  seen 
sitting  on  a  post  hammering  its  fish  against  the  wood  as  if  to  kill,  or  tear  it  to 
pieces.  The  prey  is  always  carried  in  the  bill. 

Kingfishers  dig  long  burrows  in  the  perpendicular  banks  of  streams  or  ponds, 
the  holes  ending  in  an  enlarged  chamber  in  which  the  eggs  are  laid.  These  are 
pure  white  in  color,  and  are  usually  six  or  seven  in  number.  Size  about  1.35  x  1.05. 
Two  sets  of  eggs  taken  in  Bertie  County  by  Dr.  Smithwick  were  collected  respec- 
tively on  May  7, 1896,  and  May  13, 1897.  A  nest  containing  four  decayed  eggs  was 
found  by  Pearson  in  a  railroad  cut  in  Gates  County  on  July  5,  1892.  It  nests  not 
uncommonly  all  through  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 

XIV.  ORDER  PICI.     WOODPECKERS,  ETC. 

37.    FAMILY  PICID>E.     WOODPECKERS 

This  family  includes  small,  medium,  or  rather  large  birds,  with  stiffened  and 
pointed  tail-feathers,  strong  chisel-shaped  bills,  and  the  toes  of  all  North  Carolina 
species  extend  two  in  front  and  two  behind. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Head  crested;  size  large,  wing  7.00  or  more.     See  2. 

1.  Head  not  crested;  smaller,  wing  less  than  7.00.     See  3. 

2.  Outer  hind  toe  longer  than  outer  front  toe;  bill  pale.     Campephilus. 

2.  Outer  hind  toe  not  longer  than  front  toe,  bill  dark.     Phlceotomus. 

3.  Outer  hind  toe  longer  than  outer  front  toe.     See  4. 

3.  Outer  hind  toe  not  longer  than  outer  front  toe.     See  5. 

4.  Nasal  groove  extending  nearly  to  tip  of  bill;  tongue  greatly  extensile.     Dryobates. 

4.  Nasal  groove  running  out  on  cutting  edge  of  upper  mandible,  about  halfway  to  tip;  tongue 

scarcely  extensile.     Sphyrapicus. 

5.  Under  surface  of  wing-quills  and  tail-feathers  chiefly  yellow  or  reddish,  the  shafts  brighter 

yellow  or  red.     Colaptes. 

5.  Under  surface  of  wing-  and  tail-quills  not  yellow  or  red.     See  6. 

6.  Back,  scapulars,  and  wings  barred  with  white.     Centurus. 
6.  Back,  scapulars,  and  wing-coverts  plain.    Melanerpes. 

*  The  Ivory-billed  Woodpecker,  Campephilus  prindpalis  (Linn.},  has  not  been  positively  recorded 
from  the  State  since  Alexander  Wilson,  the  father  of  American  ornithology,  took  a  specimen 
near  Wilmington  in  the  early  thirties  of  the  nineteenth  century  (see  Introduction).  Reports 
of  the  bird's  occurrence  are  not  infrequent,  but  they  may  be  relied  upon  to  refer  invariably  to 
the  Pileated  Woodpecker.  Coues  and  Yarrow  recorded  it  doubtfully  from  Fort  Macon  in  1876, 
on  the  strength  of  a  reported  specimen  which  they  had  not  seen.  It  is  the  largest  woodpecker 
occurring  in  the  United  States,  attaining  a  length  of  twenty-one  inches  and  possessing  a  powerful, 
long  white  bill. 

Genus  Dryobates  (Boie) 

This  genus  includes  a  number  of  small  and  medium-sized  woodpeckers,  the 
North  Carolina  species  of  which  are  wholly  black-and-white  in  color,  except  for 
slight  red  markings  on  the  head  in  males  or  young  birds.  The  underparts  are 
white  or  whitish,  the  wings  black  with  numerous  white  spots,  the  tail  black  with 
some  of  the  outer  feathers  more  or  less  white. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  189 


Three  species,  two  of  them  represented  each  by  two  slightly  differing  subspecies, 
occur  in  this  State.  These  differ  in  the  points  noted  in  the  following  key.  All  the 
species  are  highly  insectivorous,  although  living  to  some  extent  on  berries  in  the 
winter.  In  North  Carolina  they  are  usually  known  as  "Sapsuckers,"  which  is  a 
misnomer,  as  none  of  them  partake  of  sap. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Back  banded  transversely  with  black  and  white.     Red-cockaded  Woodpecker. 

1.  Back  black,  striped  longitudinally  with  white.    See  2. 

2.  Size  larger,  wing  more  than  4.25;  outer  tail-feathers  white,  not  barred  with  black.    See  3. 

2.  Size  smaller,  wing  less  than  4.25;  outer  tail-feathers  white  with  black  bars.    See  4. 

3.  Size  larger,  wing  averaging  about  4.75.     Hairy  Woodpecker. 

3.  Size  smaller,  wing  about  4.50.     Southern  Hairy  Woodpecker. 

4.  Size  larger,  wing  about  3.75,  underparts  purer  white.     Downy  Woodpecker. 

4.  Size  smaller,  wing  about  3.50,  underparts  brownish  white.    Southern  Downy  Woodpecker. 

172.  Dryobates  villosus  villosus  (Linn.}.    HAIRY  WOODPECKER. 

Description. — Black  above,  white  below;  the  back  with  a  long  white  stripe,  the  wings  with 
many  small  roundish  white  spots,  the  outer  tail-feathers  wholly  white.    Male  with  red  on  occiput. 
L.,  9.75;  W.,  4.75;  T.,  3.25. 
ti  Range. — Eastern  United  States,  mainly  north  of  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Resident  on  the  higher  mountains. 


FIG.  147.     HAIRY  WOODPECKER.  FIG.  148.     FOOT  OF  HAIRY 

WOODPECKER. 

This,  which  is  the  common  form  of  the  Hairy  Woodpecker  in  the  Northern  and 
Middle  States,  is  found  in  North  Carolina  only  on  the  higher  mountains.  Cairns 
recorded  it  as  breeding  on  Craggy  Mountain  in  Buncombe  County. 

173.  Dryobates  villosus  auduboni  (Swains.).  SOUTHERN  HAIRY  WOOD- 
PECKER. 

Description. — Similar  to  preceding,  but  somewhat  smaller  and  darker.  Extreme  measure- 
ments of  45  Raleigh  specimens:  I..,  8.25  to  9.12;  W.,  4.40  to  4.75;  T.,  2.50  to  3.12. 

Range.— -Southern  United  States,  from  southern  Virginia  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Whole  State,  except  the  higher  mountains;  resident  throughout 
the  year. 

The  Southern  Hairy  Woodpecker,  which  only  differs  slightly  from  the  pre- 
ceding, is  the  more  southern  form  of  the  Hairy  Woodpecker,  and  is  not  uncommon 
throughout  the  State.  It  is  mostly  found  in  wooded  lowgrounds,  and  is  one  of  the 
shyest  of  the  woodpeckers. 


190  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Like  the  preceding  form,  the  male  has  a  red  patch  on  the  back  of  the  head,  which 
is  absent  in  the  female,  while  young  birds  in  the  first  plumage  have  considerable 
red  on  the  top  of  the  head,  which,  however,  disappears  with  the  fall  moult. 

The  eggs  are  pure  white,  like  those  of  all  woodpeckers,  and  are  laid  in  hollows 
dug  by  the  bird  in  the  limbs  or  trunks  of  dead  trees.  Cairns  stated  that  in  the 
mountains  it  is  common  up  to  2,500  feet  elevation  and  breeds  in  April. 

174.  Dryobates  pubescens  pubescens  (Linn.).     SOUTHERN  DOWNY  WOOD- 
PECKER. 

Description. — Smaller  than  the  Hairy  Woodpecker,  which  it  resembles  in  general  appearance, 
but  with  the  outer  tail-feathers  white,  barred  with  black.    L.,  6.00;  W.,  3.50;  T.,  2.75. 
Range. — About  the  same  as  that  of  the  Southern  Hairy  Woodpecker. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State,  except  the  higher  mountains;  resident. 

The  Southern  Downy  Woodpecker,  which  differs  only  from  the  Downy  Wood- 
pecker in  slightly  smaller  size,  and  less  purely  white  underparts,  is  quite  common 
in  all  wooded  localities  throughout  the  State,  except  on  the  higher  mountains, 
where  it  is  replaced  by  the  next  form.  It  is  often  found  haunting  apple  orchards 
and  the  trees  on  lawns. 

Like  the  Hairy  Woodpeckers,  it  subsists  mainly  on  insects,  of  which  it  must  con- 
sume, in  the  course  of  a  year,  a  very  appreciable  number  of  wood-destroying  spe- 
cies, and  consequently  should  always  be  protected.  In  winter  it  eats  many  berries. 

Although  this  is  the  species  which  is  most  commonly  known  as  "Sapsucker" 
throughout  the  State,  it  does  not  suck  or  eat  sap,  nor  in  fact  do  any  of  our  wood- 
peckers, except  those  of  the  genus  Sphyrapicus.  The  eggs  are  usually  laid  in  May. 

175.  Dryobates  pubescens  medianus  (Swains.).    DOWNY  WOODPECKER. 

Description. — Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  averaging  slightly  larger,  and  with  the  underparts 
purer  white. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  mainly  north  of  North  Carolina. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — The  higher  mountains  only;  resident. 


FIG.   149.     DOWNY  WOODPECKER. 


In  superficial  appearance  very  similar  to  the  preceding.  So  far  as  known,  it  has 
been  recorded  in  this  State  only  from  Buncombe  County. 

176.  Dryobates  borealis  (VieilL).    RED-COCKADED  WOODPECKER. 

Description. — Back  barred  transversely  with  black  and  white;  sides  spotted  with  black;  a 
large  white  patch  on  each  side  of  head,  which  is  very  conspicuous  and  characteristic  in  life;  male 
with  a  little  red  patch  on  each  side  of  head.  L.,  8.40;  W.,  4.60;  T.,  3.70. 


Plate   15 


RED-COCKADED   WOODPECKER.     Dryobates  borealis  (Vieill.)     Male  and  Female. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  191 


Range. — Southern  States,  from  North  Carolina  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina.— Eastern  portion  of  the  State,  mainly  east  and  south  of  a  line  drawn 
from  Norfolk,  Va.,  to  Raleigh,  and  thence  to  Charlotte. 

The  Red-cockaded  Woodpecker,  intermediate  in  size  between  the  Hairy  and 
Downy  Woodpeckers,  is  an  abundant  bird  in  the  pine  woods  of  the  Lower  Austral 
region  in  this  State.  So  far  it  has  been  noted  only  in  Bertie,  Carteret,  Craven, 
Brunswick,  Bladen,  Moore,  New  Hanover,  Currituck,  and  Wake  counties.  In  the 
last  named  county  it  seems  to  be  merely  a  straggler,  only  four  specimens  having 
been  observed  in  thirty  years  of  observation.  A.  L.  Feild  reports  it  also  from 
Chapel  Hill,  in  March  and  April,  1909. 

This  species,  when  about  to  nest,  excavates  a  hole  in  a  living  pine  tree.  All 
around  the  tree  for  two  or  three  feet  above  the  entrance,  and  for  a  distance  fully 
-as  great  beneath  it,  the  birds  make  numerous  punctures  through  the  bark,  from 
which  the  resin  flows  and  forms  a  sticky  mass  over  the  entire  area.  This  makes 
a  conspicuous  mark,  and  the  tree  containing  a  nest  may  often  be  noticed  by  this 
means  at  a  distance  of  two  or  three  hundred  yards  in  the  open  pine  woods.  While 
the  purpose  of  this  custom  is  not  known,  it  may  be  reasonably  asserted  that  the 
nest  is  thus  effectually  guarded  from  the  inroads  of  ants  and  squirrels.  Our  only 
North  Carolina  record  of  eggs  of  this  species  comes  from  Bertie  County,  where  a 
set  of  four  was  taken  by  Smithwick,  April  29,  1897.  Pearson  has  found  occupied 
nests  in  New  Hanover  and  Brunswick  counties,  but  did  not  cut  the  holes  out  to 
examine  the  contents. 

These  woodpeckers  are  often  found  in  small  troops,  possibly  formed  of  the 
parents  and  their  brood.  They  frequent  mainly  the  upper  branches  and  terminal 
twigs  of  pine  trees. 

Genus  Sphyrapicus  (Baird) 

177.  Sphyrapicus  varius  varius  (Linn.).    YELLOW-BELLIED  SAPSUCKER. 

Description. — Upperparts  black,  varied  with  white;  belly  yellowish;  crown,  red  in  male  and 
usually  in  female;  throat  and  chin  red  in  male,  white  in  female;  a  black  patch  on  breast  in  both 
sexes.  Im. — Brownish,  much  mottled,  the  markings  of  the  adults  but  little  indicated.  L., 
8.75;  W.,  4.90;  T.,  3.25. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  wintering  from  Southern  States  to  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter,  breeds  in  the  mountain  region. 

The  Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker  is  a  common  winter  resident  throughout  the 
greater  portion  of  the  State,  occurring  from  September  to  late  April  or  early  May. 
Our  summer  records  come  from  Highlands,  Macon  County,  where  the  birds  were 
observed  breeding  by  Brewster  in  1885,  and  mentioned  as  breeding  by  Huger  in 
1910;  Roan  Mountain,  Mitchell  County,  a  breeding  pair  observed  by  Rhoads  on 
June  18,  1895;  Joanna  Bald  Mountain,  Cherokee  County,  a  breeding  pair  seen  by 
C.  S.  Brimley  and  Sherman,  May  14,  1908;  Buncombe  County,  recorded  by  Cairns 
as  breeding  on  the  higher  mountains,  and  by  Pearson,  who  found  an  immature  bird 
on  Graybeard  Mountain,  Buncombe  County,  in  July,  1903. 

Their  nesting  season  is  May  and  June.  Five  to  seven  eggs  are  said  to  be  laid. 
Their  general  breeding  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  other  woodpeckers,  and  the 
holes  they  dig  for  nests  are  usually  in  dead  trees. 


192  •  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


This  is  the  only  woodpecker  which  is  permanently  injurious  to  trees,  it  being 
very  fond  of  the  sap  and  tender  inner  bark.  It  will  dig  many  little  holes  through 
the  bark,  running  them  around  the  trunk  one  above  the  other.  Pearson  counted 
over  1,600  of  these  miniature  excavations  in  the  trunk  of  a  small  "she  balsam"  on 
the  campus  of  Guilford  College.  The  trees  which  they  seem  to  attack  most  com- 
monly are  the  white  pine,  apple,  and  black  gum.  In  winter  they  subsist  mainly 
on  berries,  such  as  those  of  the  dogwood,  frost  grape,  and  holly. 


Pia.  150.     YELLOW-BELLIED  SAPSUCKEB. 


They  appear  to  be  the  least  shy  of  any  of  our  woodpeckers.  *^0n  the  other,  handr 
they  are  much  less  noisy,  both  in  their  cries  and  while  at  work  pecking  in  the  bark, 
and  thus  easily  escape  detection  by  the  casual  observer. 

Bendire,  in  Life  Histories  of  North  American  Birds,  writes  of  this  bird:  "None 
of  our  woodpeckers  are  more  noisy  and  boisterous  than  this  species."  This  may 
be  correct  in  reference  to  them  when  on  their  northern  breeding  grounds,  but  it 
certainly  is  not  true  of  the  birds  as  usually  observed  in  North  Carolina. 

Genus  Phloeotomus  (C.  &  H.) 
178.  Phloeotomus  pileatus  (Linn.}.    PILEATED  WOODPECKER. 

Description.—  Black;  a  white  stripe  down  neck;  whole  top  of  head  and  crest,  and  a  patch  on 
cheeks,  red  in  male,  but  only  crest  red  in  female.  In  color  distinguished  from  the  Ivory-billed 
Woodpecker  by  the  lack  of  white  on  the  scapulars  (shoulders),  and  by  the  general  color  being, 
dull  black  instead  of  glossy  black.  L.,  17.00;  W.,  9.00;  T.,  6.25. 

Range  (including  subspecies).  —  Whole  of  North  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina.  —  Heavily  wooded  districts  throughout  the  State;  resident. 

According  to  the  American  Ornithologist's  Check  List,  two  subspecies  of  the 
Pileated  Woodpecker  are  liable  to  occur  in  North  Carolina,  as  follows: 

1.  Pileated  Woodpecker,   Phlceotomus   pileatus   pileatus    (Linn.).     More   sooty 
black  in  color,  with  the  white  markings  less  extensive;  size  smaller,  wing  about  9.00 
or  less.    Southern  States  from  North  Carolina  southward. 

2.  Northern    Pileated    Woodpecker,    Phloeotomus    pileatus    abieticola    (Bangs). 
Color  more  brownish  black,  white  markings  more  extensive,  size  larger,  wing  about 
9.25.    British  America,  extending  south  in  the  southern  Alleghanies. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  193 


The  former  subspecies  is  the  bird  found  throughout  the  State,  and  the  one  to 
which  the  measurements  given  under  the  head  of  the  species  belong,  while  the 
latter  may  possibly  occur  on  the  higher  mountains. 

The  Pileated  Woodpecker,  commonly  known  in  this  State  as  the  Logcock,  or 
Woodcock,  and  occasionally  called  "Good-god,"  is  still  a  fairly  common  bird 
throughout  North  Carolina  in  all  heavily  wooded  regions,  and  is  found  sparingly 
even  in  Wake  County,  one  of  the  most  thickly  settled  parts  of  the  State.  Pearson 
saw  it  occasionally  on  the  campus  of  the  State  University  at  Chapel  Hill  fifteen 
years  ago,  and  records  one  especially  which  he  watched  for  some  time  on  November 
8,  1899.  (Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Chapel  Hill,  page  41.) 

It  is  a  wild,  shy  bird,  well  able  to  care  for  itself  and  keep  out  of  the  way  of  aggres- 
sive and  murderous  mankind. 


FIG.  151.     PILEATED  WOODPECKER. 

At  Lake  Ellis,  in  Craven  County,  we  have  not  infrequently  watched  one  digging 
for  food  in  some  decayed  log,  and  the  blows  it  would  strike  on  such  occasions  were 
terrific.  The  noise  of  one  at  work  can  often  be  heard  a  quarter  of  a  mile  or  more, 
and  the  sound  cannot  be  confounded  with  that  made  by  any  other  woodpecker  now 
occurring  in  the  State.  Its  voice,  too,  is  equally  resonant. 

The  nesting  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  other  woodpeckers,  except  that  the 
excavations  are  often  three  or  four  feet  in  depth.  The  bird  is  said  to  nest  gener- 
ally in  living  trees,  but  Pearson  found  three  nests  in  Guilford  County,  all  of  which 
were  in  dead  trees.  The  eggs  are  from  three  to  five  in  a  set,  white  in  color,  as 
usual  in  the  family.  Size  about  1.25  x  .95. 

The  food  of  this  bird  consists  of  insects  (many  of  them  the  larvae  of  wood-boring 
beetles),  varied  with  berries  in  fall  and  winter. 

13 


194  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Genus  Melanerpes  (Swains.) 
179.  Melanerpes  erythrocephalus  (Linn.}.    RED-HEADED  WOODPECKER. 

Description. — Whole  head  and  neck  red  in  adult;  belly,  rump,  and  secondaries  white;  rest  of 
plumage  glossy  black.  Young  with  the  red  and  black  replaced  by  brownish  gray,  and  secondaries 
barred  with  black.  L.,  9.50;  W.,  5.50;  T.,  3.25. 

Range. — United  States,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons. 


FIG.   152.     RED-HEADED  WOODPECKER. 

The  Red-headed  Woodpecker  is  a  common  bird  in  North  Carolina,  its  abundance 
seeming  to  depend,  however,  on  local  conditions.  In  Wake  County,  for  instance, 
it  appears  to  be  quite  common  in  the  city  of  Raleigh,  wherever  there  are  groves  of 
oak  trees,  as  acorns  furnish  a  considerable  part  of  its  food.  It  also  feeds  on  insects, 
which  it  digs  from  rotten  wood  or  catches  on  the  wing.  Corn  in  the  silk,  and 
various  kinds  of  fruit,  are  also  eaten.  Bendire,  in  Life  Histories  of  North  Amer- 
ican Birds,  says  that  it  eats  both  the  eggs  and  young  of  small  birds,  and  quotes 
many  instances  in  support  of  this  statement. 

Its  nesting  habits  are  those  common  to  the  members  of  the  family,  the  hole  being 
dug  in  a  dead  tree  or  limb,  or  even  in  a  telegraph  or  telephone  pole  or  flag-pole.  A 
pair  made  their  nest  in  the  ball  on  the  top  of  the  flagstaff  on  the  State  Capitol 
some  years  ago. 

Genus  Centurus  (Swains.) 

180.  Centurus  carolinus  (Linn.).    RED-BELLIED  WOODPECKER. 

Description:  Ad.  d*. — Whole  top  of  head  and  back  of  the  neck  bright  scarlet;  back  regularly 
barred  with  black  and  white;  primaries  black  at  the  end,  white,  irregularly  barred  with  black, 
at  the  base;  secondaries  black,  regularly  spotted  and  barred  with  white;  upper  tail-coverts  white, 
with  streaks  or  arrowheads  of  black;  outer  tail-feathers  and  inner  vanes  of  the  middle  ones  irregu- 
larly marked  with  broken  black  arid  white  bars;  cheeks  and  underparts  dull  ashy  white,  the  region 
about  the  base  of  the  bill,  the  middle  of  the  belly,  and  sometimes  the  breast,  more  or  less  tinged 
with  red.  Ad.  9 . — Similar,  but  with  the  crown  grayish  ashy,  the  scarlet  confined  to  the  nape 
and  nostrils.  Im. — Similar,  but  with  the  belly  sometimes  tinged  with  buffy  instead  c.f  red. 
L.,  9.50;  W.,  5.00;  T.,  3.40;  B.,  1.10.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — United  States,  east  of  Rocky  Mountains. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons,  but  local. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  195 


The  Red-bellied  Woodpecker  seems  to  occur  in  this  State  most  commonly  in  tall 
timber  in  the  neighborhood  of  water,  but  definite  data  on  the  subject  are  largely 
lacking.  We  have  enough,  however,  to  know  that  it  occurs  in  all  sections  and  at 
all  seasons. 

In  winter  it  feeds  freely  on  small  acorns,  and  seems  also  to  be  quite  fond  of 
beechnuts.  Pearson  has  frequently  seen  them  feeding  on  oranges  in  Florida,  and 
mentions  that  they  are  also  very  fond  of  the  large  Scotch  mulberry. 

181.  Colaptes  auratus  (Linn.).    FLICKER. 

Description. — Head  ashy  with  a  red  nuchal  crescent;  rump  white,  rest  of  upperparts  brownish, 
barred  with  black;  lower  parts  pinkish  brown,  shading  into  yellow,  a  black  crescent  across  breast, 
underparts  back  of  the  black  crescent  thickly  spotted  with  round  black  spots.  Shafts  and  under 
surface  of  quills  golden  yellow.  Male  with  a  broad  black  stripe  on  each  side  of  the  throat  from 
the  base  of  the  bill.  L.,  12.25;  W.,  6.25;  T.,  4.50. 

Range  (including  subspecies). — Eastern  North  America,  west  to  Great  Plains. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons. 


Fia.  153.     FLICKER. 

The  Flicker  is  now  separated  into  two  subspecies,  both  of  which  presumably 
occur  in  the  State.  These  are: 

1.  Flicker,  Colaptes  auratus  auratus  (Linn.).    Smaller  with  relatively  longer  bill, 
wing  less  than  6.00,  tail  less  than  4.00.    Colors  darker,  less  yellow  below  and  more 
black  spotting.    Breeds  from  North  Carolina  southward. 

2.  Northern  Flicker,  Colaptes  auratus  luteus  (Bangs).     Larger  with  relatively 
shorter  bill;  wing  over  6.00,  tail  over  4.00.    Colors  lighter,  more  yellow  below  and 
less  black.    Breeds  from  North  Carolina  northward. 

The  first  form  would  include  our  breeding  birds  from  the  coast  to  Raleigh  or 
perhaps  even  farther  west,  while  the  second  form  would  take  in  the  breeding  birds 
of  the  mountains  and  the  bulk  of  those  that  winter  in  the  State. 

The  Flicker,  almost  universally  known  in  this  State  by  the  local  name,  "Yellow- 
hammer,"  occurs  in  all  portions  of  North  Carolina  throughout  the  year,  but  is 
much  more  common  in  the  migrations  during  October  and  March. 

Flickers  feed  very  largely  on  the  ground,  often  in  company  with  birds  of  other 
species.  Their  food  consists  to  a  large  extent  of  ants,  which  they  dig  from  the 


196  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


earth  with  their  slightly  curved  bills.  In  the  fall  they  feed  much  on  berries,  such 
as  those  of  the  black  gum,  dogwood,  frost  grape,  etc.,  while  in  winter  they  fairly 
swarm  in  the  peanut  fields.  In  the  fall,  when  eating  gum-berries,  they  may  be  seen, 
two  or  more  at  a  time  in  the  same  tree,  bowing  and  bobbing  their  heads  at  one 
another,  frequently  doing  this  so  completely  in  unison  that  it  looks  as  if  they  might 
be  worked  by  machinery.  At  the  same  time  they  utter  a  series  of  notes  which  sug- 
gest the  words  whicker-whicker-whicker. 

Although  common,  the  Flicker  is  quite  shy,  and  seems  to  know  just  how  far  an 
ordinary  gun  will  carry.  This  knowledge  is  good  for  the  bird  and  for  mankind 
also,  as  the  Flicker  does  not  seem  to  have  any  objectionable  traits  to  offset  its 
undeniably  good  ones.  At  Cape  Hatteras  it  is  known  as  "Wilcrissen." 

Eggs  have  been  taken  at  Raleigh  and  in  Bertie  and  Beaufort  counties  from  April 
24  to  May  15,  the  sets  containing  from  four  to  eight.  The  nesting  cavities  are 
dug  by  the  birds  themselves  in  dead  trees,  or  dead  limbs  of  living  ones,  at  heights 
varying  from  12  to  30  feet.  Eggs  pure  white,  size  about  1.10  x  .85. 

XV.  ORDER  MACROCHIRES.     GOATSUCKERS,  SWIFTS,  AND 

HUMMINGBIRDS 

KEY  TO  FAMILIES 

1.  Bill  long,  gape  shoit,  size  small.     Trochilidce,  Hummingbirds. 

1.  Bill  short,  gape  very  deep.    See  2. 

2.  Middle  toe  longer  than  side  toes,  plumage  soft,  varied;  gape  with  bristles.     Caprimulgidos, 

Goatsuckers. 

2.  Middle  toe  scarcely  longer  than  side  toes,  plumage  compact,  its  color  uniform.     No  bristles 
at  gape.     Micropodidce,  Swifts. 

38.    FAMILY  CAPRIMULG1D>E.      GOATSUCKERS 

The  birds  of  this  family  agree  in  having  the  plumage  soft,  and  colors  varied, 
the  gape  very  wide  and  deep,  and  usually  furnished  with  long  bristles.  The  toes 
are  slightly  webbed  at  base,  and  the  middle  claw  is  pectinate.  The  species  are 
mainly  insectivorous,  though  some  of  the  larger  kinds  occasionally  eat  small  birds. 
They  are  nocturnal  or  crepuscular,  and  in  many  ways  seem  related  to  the  owls, 
with  which  they  have  been  associated  by  some  ornithologists.  Their  handsomely 
marked  eggs  are  deposited  on  the  ground. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Bristles  at  gape  very  long;  tail  rounded.     Antrostomus. 

1.  Bristles  at  gape  inconspicuous;  tail  emarginate.     Chordeiles. 

Genus  Antrostomus  (Bonap.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Bristles  at  gape  with  side  branches;  color  redder;  size  larger,  wing  over  7.50.     Chuck-will's- 

widow. 
1.  Bristles  at  gape  simple;  color  grayer;  size  smaller,  wing  less  than  7.00.     Whip-poor-will. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  197 


182.  Antrostomus  carolinensis  (Gmel.}.    CHUCK-WILL' S-WIDOW. 

Description:  Ad.  male. — Upperparts  streaked  with  black  and  finely  mottled  with  ochraceous- 
buff  and  black;  primaries  black,  with  broken  rufous  bars;  tail  mottled  with  black  and  ochraceous- 
buff,  the  end  half  of  all  but  the  two  middle  feathers  white,  more  or  less  washed  with  buffy  on  the 
inner  vane;  underparts  mottled  with  black,  ochraceous,  and  cream-buff;  an  imperfect  whitish 
band  across  the  upper  breast;  base  of  the  bill  beset  with  long,  stiffened  bristles,  the  basal  half 
of  these  bristles  grown  with  hairlike  branches.  Ad.  female. — Similar,  but  with  no  white  patches 
in  the  tail,  the  upper  breast  with  an  ochraceous-buff  instead  of  white  band.  L.,  12.00;  W.,  8.50; 
T.,  6.00;  B.,  .40.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  north  to  southern  Illinois. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Lower  Austral  region  of  State,  ranging  inland  as  far  at  least  as 
Raleigh  and  Chapel  Hill. 


PIG.  154.     CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW. 

The  Chuck-will's-widow  is  a  common  bird  in  all  the  Lower  Austral  region  of 
the  State,  and  is  one  of  the  most  characteristic  birds  of  that  region,  it  replacing  the 
Whip-poor-will  in  summer  over  most  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  State.  At  Raleigh 
it  arrives  about  the  end  of  the  third  week  in  April  and  has  been  noted  as  late  as 
September  21.  What  few  dates  we  have  from  eastern  localities  agree  with  these. 

The  cry  begins  with  a  short  chuck,  followed  by  a  distinct  double  note,  which  alone 
is  heard  unless  one  is  close  enough  to  distinguish  the  chuck.  We  have  heard  people 
call  it  the  "  Will's-widow,"  apparently  from  the  two  notes  only. 

The  bird  stays  mostly  in  thick,  deep  woods,  where  in  May  or  June  it  lays  its 
two  beautifully  marked  eggs,  on  the  dead  leaves,  in  some  secluded  spot.  They  are 
pinkish  buff,  marbled  and  spotted  with  various  shades  of  olive-gray  and  brown. 
Size  about  1.40  x  .97. 

Although  mainly  insectivorous,  C.  S.  Brimley  once  killed  a  specimen  that  had 
swallowed  a  Carolina  Wren,  and  Bendire  cites  several  other  instances  of  its  bird- 
eating  propensities. 

There  is  a  widespread  impression  that  the  Chuck-will's-widow  is  the  male  Whip- 
poor-will.  Its  note  is  frequently  interpreted  by  negroes  as  "  Chip-fell-out-o  '-white- 
oak"  and  "Twixt-hell-and-white-oak." 

183.  Antrostomus  vociferus  vociferus  (Wils.).   WHIP-POOR-WILL. 

Description. — Grayish,  very  much  variegated  with  blackish  and  buffy,  a  white  crescent  on 
breast,  and  in  the  male  ends  of  outer  tail-feathers  white,  but  these  last  buffy  in  the  female.  The 
wings,  when  closed,  do  not  reach  to  the  end  of  the  tail.  L.,  9.75;  W.,  6.25;  T.,  4.75. 


198 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Range. — Eastern  North  America,  wintering  in  the  extreme  southern  part  of  the  United  States, 
and  southward  to  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Nearly  whole  State  in  summer,  but  absent  or  much  less  common  in 
the  eastern  section. 

\-  The  well  known  Whip-poor-will  reaches  our  State  about  the  first  part  of  April 
or  even  late  in  March,  but  the  records  seem  to  show  that  these  birds  probably  pass 
on,  while  the  breeding  birds  arrive  some  two  or  three  weeks  later.  These  conclu- 
sions result  from  a  consideration  of  the  fact  that  the  dates  of  arrival  fall  largely 
into  two  groups,  one  centering  about  early  April,  the  other  about  two  weeks  later. 
The  latest  date  recorded  at  Raleigh  in  fall  was  November  6,  the  next  latest  Octo- 
ber 10. 


FIG.   155.     NIGHTHAWK   (UPPER)   AND  WHIP-POOR-WILL    (LOWER). 


This  is  a  nocturnal  woodland  bird,  often  heard  but  seldom  seen,  which  leads  to- 
the  erroneous  idea  that  the  Whip-poor-will  and  the  "Bullbat"  are  the  same  bird. 
This  is  not  an  unnatural  conclusion,  due  to  the  fact  that  we  see  the  one  bird  shortly 
before  sunset,  and  hear  the  other  a  little  later. 

The  nesting  habits  of  this  species  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Chuck-will's-widow. 
The  eggs  are  two  in  number,  and  at  Raleigh  are  laid  from  late  April  to  mid-June. 
In  appearance  they  are  not  markedly  different  from  those  of  the  larger  bird  except 
in  size.  They  average  1.12  x  .88. 

The  notes  are  the  well  known  whip-poor-will  cry,  which  when  heard  close  at 
hand  loses  most  of  its  resemblance  to  those  words,  but  consists  of  three  loud  swish- 
ing notes,  something  like  "whish-shoo-whish." 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  199 


Genus  Chordeiles  (Swains.) 

184.  Chordeiles  virginianus  virginianus  (Gruel.).    NIGHTHAWK;  "BULLBAT." 

Description. — Blackish,  barred  and  mottled  with  grayish  and  buffy;  a  large  white  patch  on 
the  wing;  adult  males  with  a  broad  bar  of  white  across  tail,  except  on  two  middle  feathers.  The 
wings,  when  closed,  reach  quite  to  end  of  the  tail  or  beyond.  L.,  9.75;  W.,  8.00;  T.,  4.50. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  wintering  in  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer. 

The  Bullbat  is  found  in  all  portions  of  the  State  in  summer,  but  exactly  when 
it  usually  reaches  the  State  in  spring  is  hard  to  decide,  as  the  records  from  differ- 
ent localities  vary  so  much  from  year  to  year.  The  earliest  recorded  dates  are  at 
Raleigh,  April  15;  in  Buncombe  County,  April  19;  at  Statesville,  April  23;  and 
at  Chapel  Hill  also  April  23.  At  the  same  places  in  other  years,  ho  wever,  the  dates 
of  the  first  arrival  in  spring  range  as  late  as  May  16.  The  latest  dates  we  have  of 
its  occurrence  in  fall  are  October  6  at  Raleigh,  and  October  13  in  Buncombe  County. 

This  species,  although  breeding  in  all  parts  of  the  State,  appears  most  numer- 
ous during  the  fall  migration,  when  large  numbers  may  be  seen  passing  southward 
about  sunset  during  any  part  of  the  period  from  mid-July  to  October.  At  this 
time,  before  the  passage  of  the  Audubon  bird  and  game  law  in  1903,  they  were 
killed  in  large  numbers  by  many  of  our  so-called  sportsmen,  irrespective  of  the  fact 
that  they  were  of  little  use  as  food  and  are  of  great  service  as  destroyers  of  mos- 
quitoes. 

Like  the  rest  of  the  family,  the  Nighthawk  is  preeminently  an  insectivorous  bird, 
catching  on  the  wing  and  eating  large  numbers  of  the  smaller  flying  insects. 

In  addition  to  its  ordinary  note,  which  sounds  something  like  "  cheap,"  and  which 
is  uttered  on  the  wing,  it  makes  a  loud  booming  noise,  apparently  caused  by  its 
rushing  downward  through  the  air,  and  then  suddenly  arresting  its  flight  by  wings 
thrown  strongly  downward. 

The  eggs  are  laid  on  bare  ground  in  fields  or  open  woods.  They  are  two  in  num- 
ber, about  the  same  size  as  those  of  the  Whip-poor-will,  but  much  darker  in  color, 
the  markings  being  dark  gray,  slate,  or  blackish.  They  are  deposited  in  May  and 
June. 

39.    FAMILY  MICROPOD1D>C.     SWIFTS 

These  are  birds  with  the  gape  broad  and  deep,  and  the  wings  long  and  pointed. 
The  bones  of  the  wing  before  the  bend  are  unusually  short,  in  which  respect  they 
agree  with  the  hummingbirds.  One  genus  occurs  with  us.  This  has  the  shafts  of 
the  tail-feathers  bare  at  the  tips,  and  consequently  projecting  as  spinous  points. 

Genus  Chsetura  (Steph.) 

185.  Chsetura  pelagica  (Linn.).    CHIMNEY  SWIFT;  " CHIMNEY  SWALLOW." 

Description. — Sooty  brown,  throat  paler.  Tail-feathers  ending  in  sharp  spines.  L.,  5.25; 
W.,  5.00;  T.,  about  2.00. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America  in  summer;  winter  range  unknown. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Whole  State  in  summer. 


200  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Chimney  Swifts  arrive  from  the  South  about  the  first  week  in  April,  but 
these  first  comers  apparently  pass  on,  the  breeding  birds  not  coming  in  until  two 
weeks  later. 

In  all  parts  of  the  State  it  is  quite  abundant  in  summer,  nesting  ordinarily  in 
chimneys,  though  in  some  of  the  wilder  districts  it  no  doubt  still  uses  hollow  trees 
for  that  purpose.  Pearson  has  on  two  occasions  seen  Chimney  Swifts  enter  hollow 
cypress  trees  on  the  shores  of  Great  Lake  in  Craven  County.  Its  nesting  habits 
form  a  curious  and  well-marked  instance  of  how  a  bird's  manner  of  nesting  may 
become  altered  by  the  advent  of  man.  Perhaps  the  Swifts,  if  they  were  capable  of 
philosophizing  on  the  subject,  would  rejoice  at  the  benefit  man  has  conferred  upon 
them  by  furnishing  such  safe  and  convenient  places  as  chimneys  for  nesting  sites. 
The  bird's  legs  are  very  weak;  it  does  not,  therefore,  perch  like  other  birds,  but 
clings  with  its  toes  and  braces  itself  with  its  stiff  tail-feathers. 


TIG.  156.     CHIMNEY  SWIFT.  Fid.  157.     TOOT  AND  TAIL,  OF  CHIMNEY  SWIFT. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  small  twigs  glued  together  by  the  bird's  glutinous  saliva, 
and  is  placed  against  the  vertical  inner  wall  of  a  chimney,  so  as  to  form  a  half- 
saucer-shaped  structure.  Four  to  six  pure  white  eggs  are  laid.  Size  .80  x  .50. 
These  are  known  to  be  deposited  in  this  State  from  late  May  to  mid-July. 

This  species  seems  to  leave  North  Carolina  for  its  winter  home  about  the  first 
week  in  October,  our  latest  dates  ranging  from  October  1  at  Raleigh,  to  October  11 
at  Weaver ville. 

The  Chimney  Swift  subsists  entirely  on  insects,  which  it  catches  on  the  wing, 
and  the  number  it  destroys  must  be  so  enormous  as  to  render  it  an  exceedingly 
useful  species. 

40.    FAMILY  TROCHII_ID>E.      HUMMINGBIRDS 

About  five  hundred  species  of  Hummingbirds  are  known.  These  are  confined 
chiefly  to  South  America.  Seventeen  forms  reach  the  United  States,  but  only  one 
is  found  east  of  the  Mississippi  River.  They  possess  long,  slender  bills,  and  their 
wings  are  much  pointed. 

Genus  Archilochus  (Reichenb.) 

186.  Archilochus  colubris  (Linn.}.      RUBY-THROATED  HUMMINGBIRD. 

Description:  Ad.  cf . — Upperparts  bright,  shining  green;  wings  and  tail  fuscous,  with  purplish 
reflections;  throat  beautiful  metallic  ruby-red,  bordered  on  the  breast  by  whitish;  rest  of  the 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  201 


underparts  dusky,  washed  with  greenish  on  the  sides;  tail  forked.  Ad.  $. — No  ruby  throat- 
patch;  bronzy  green  above,  whitish  below;  tail  nearly  even,  outer  three  feathers  tipped  with 
white.  Im.  c?  - — Similar  to  9 ,  but  throat  with  dusky  streaks,  and,  in  older  birds,  with  ruby- 
colored  feathers.  L.,  3.74;  W.,  1.54;  T.,  1.15;  B.,  .67.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Canada  to  Florida  and  westward  to  the  Great  Plains;  winters  from  extreme  southern 
United  States  to  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer. 

The  Ruby-throated  Hummingbird  is  a  common  summer  visitor  throughout  the 
State,  arriving  usually  about  April  15  and  departing  early  in  October. 

This  is  possibly  one  of  the  best  known  of  our  birds,  being  a  familiar  object  as 
it  hovers  about  flowers  with  its  tiny  wings  beating  so  fast  that  they  are  rendered 
almost  invisible.  With  its  long  extensible  tongue  it  sucks  the  nectar  from  the  deep 
recesses  of  blossoms,  or  catches  small  insects  which  inhabit  them. 

The  nest  is  a  small,  dainty,  cup-shaped  object,  composed  of  soft  vegetable  down, 
and  covered  artistically  with  lichens.  Two  elongated  white  eggs  are  laid  at  some 
time  between  April  20  and  July  5.  The  nests  are  usually  saddled  on  the  limb  of 
some  good  sized  tree,  but  may  be  built  among  small  twigs.  We  have  seen  them  in 
oaks,  pines,  apple  trees,  elms,  maples,  hickories,  and  dogwoods,  at  heights  varying 
from  four  to  thirty-five  feet.  In  pines  they  seem  to  be  usually  built  on  dead  limbs, 
but  in  other  trees  on  living  ones. 

Although  so  small,  they  frequently  chase  other  birds  away  from  the  neighborhood 
of  their  nests. 

XVI.  ORDER  PASSERES.     THE  PERCHING  BIRDS. 

This  order  includes  more  than  half  of  all  the  known  birds,  and  about  half  of 
those  occurring  in  North  Carolina.  In  it  are  enumerated  nearly  all  the  familiar 
species  of  our  orchards,  groves,  thickets,  and  farms. 

Its  members  are  of  small  or  medium  size,  the  largest  being  the  raven,  and  the 
next  largest  the  common  crow;  but  the  small  ones  far  surpass  in  numbers  those  of 
even  medium  size. 

These  birds  possess  in  common  the  following  characters:  feet  four-toed,  always 
with  three  toes  in  front  and  one  behind,  the  latter  being  on  a  level  with  the  rest. 
None  of  the  toes  are  webbed  or  reversible.  The  tail-feathers  are  usually  twelve 
in  number,  and  the  primaries  ten,  the  first  primary  being  usually  either  small  or 
else  rudimentary  and  apparently  absent. 

All  of  our  song-birds  belong  to  this  order. 

KEY  TO  FAMILIES 

1.  Primaries  ten,  the  first  about  as  long  as  the  second.  Hind  claw  not  long  and  straight. 
Hinder  edge  of  tarsus  rounded.  Bill  depressed,  broad  at  base,  hooked  at  tip.  The 
Flycatchers,  Tyrannidce. 

1.  Developed  primaries  nine,  or  if  ten,  the  first  rarely  half  as  long  as  second.     See  2. 

2.  Hinder  edge  of  tarsus  rounded.     Hind  claw  long  and  straight.     Developed  primaries  nine. 

Bill  short,  stoutish,  not  hooked  at  tip.     The  true  Larks,  Alaudidoe. 

2.  Hinder  edge  of  tarsus  compressed,  forming  a  sharp  ridge  behind.     See  3. 

3.  Developed  primaries  nine,  the  first  one  about  as  long  as  second.     Bill  not  hooked  at  tip. 

See  4. 

3.  Primaries  ten,  the  first  one  short,  rarely  half  the  length  of  the  second.  (Some  Vireos  have 
only  nine  developed  primaries,  but  they  have  the  bill  slightly  hooked  at  tip.)  See  9. 


202  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


4.  Bill  very  short,  but  the  gape  very  wide  and  deep.     Wings  very  long  and  pointed.     The 
Swallows,  Hirundinidce. 

4.  Bill  not  as  above.     See  5. 

5.  Bill  conirostral,  stout  at  base,  with  the  corners  of  the  mouth  drawn  downward.     See  6. 

5.  Bill  not  conirostral,  the  corners  of  the  mouth  not  drawn  downward.     See  7. 

6.  Bill  rather  long,  often  longer  than  head,  without  notch  at  tip  or  bristles  at  the  gape.     The 

Orioles  and  Blackbirds,  Icleridoe. 

6.  Bill  shorter  than  head,    often  notched   at  tip  or  with  bristles   at   gape.     The  Sparrow 

family,  Fringillidce. 

7.  Bill  conical,  stout.     Nostrils  placed  high,  exposed.     The  Tanagers,  Tangaridce. 

7.  Bill  slender,  not  conical.     See  8. 

8.  Hind  claw  short  and  curved,  not  longer  than  its  toe.     Tertials  not  lengthened.     The  Wood 

Warblers,  Minotiltidoe. 

8.  Hind  claw  long  and  stiaight,  longer  than  its  toe.     Tertials  lengthened.     The  Wagtails, 

Motadllidoe. 

9.  Tarsus  with  the  plates  in  front  fused  together.     Bristles  present  at  the  gape.     See  19. 
9.  Tarsus  with  distinct  plates  in  front.     See  10. 

10.  Bill  more  or  less  hooked  at  tip.     See  11. 

10.  Bill  not  hooked  at  tip.     See  13. 

11.  Bill  strongly  hooked  and  toothed  at  tip,  plumage  gray,  length  over  8  inches.     The  Shrikes, 

Laniidce. 

11.  Bill  only  slightly  hooked  at  tip,  plumage  not  gray.     See  12. 

12.  Head  crested,  tail  tipped  with  yellow.     The  Waxwings,  Bombycillidoe. 

12.  Head  not  crested,  tail  not  tipped  with  yellow.     The  Vireos,  Vireonidoe. 

13.  Tail-feathers  stiff  and  pointed,  bill  decurved.     The  Creepers,  Certhiidae.. 

13.  Tail-feathers  soft  and  rounded  at  tip.     See  14. 

14.  Nasal-feathers  not  directed  forwards.     See  15. 

14.  Nasal-feathers  directed  forwards,  covering  the  nostrils.     See  16. 

15.  Length  8  inches  or  more.     The  Mocking-birds,  Mimidce. 

15.  Length  less  than  7  inches  (most  under  6).     The  Wrens,  Troglodytidoe. 

16.  Birds  of  small  size,  wing  less  than  4  inches.     See  17. 

16.  Birds  of  large  size,  wing  over  4  inches.     The  Crows  and  Jays,  Corvidoe. 

17.  Bill   notched    at   the   tip,    very   slender.     The   Old   World   Warblers,    Sylviidoe;   in  North 

America  the  Gnat-catcher  group,  Genus  Polioptila. 

17.  Bill  not  notched  at  tip.     See  18. 

18.  Bill  long,  wings  long,  tail  short.     The  Nuthatches,  Siltidae. 

18.  Bill  short,  wings  short,  tail  long.     The  Titmice,  Paridoe. 

19.  Birds  of  small  size,  wing  less  than  3  inches.     The  Old  World  Warblers,  Sylviidoe,  Kinglet 

group,  Genus  Regulus. 
19.  Birds  of  moderate  size,  wing  more  than  3  inches.     The  Thrushes,  Turdidce. 

41.    FAMILY  TYRANNIC^E.     TYRANT  FLYCATCHERS 

This  family  contains  a  number  of  birds  of  medium  or  small  size,  mainly  dull 
colored  and  of  little  musical  ability,  the  voice  being  either  harsh  or  plaintive. 

The  wings  are  long,  the  legs  and  feet  rather  weak.  The  bill  is  triangular,  flat- 
tened from  above,  wide  at  the  base,  and  slightly  hooked  at  the  tip.  There  are 
usually  bristles  at  the  gape,  which  no  doubt  aid  the  bird  in  catching  flying  insects. 

Six  genera  occur  with  us,  and  a  seventh  may  at  any  time  furnish  an  occasional 
straggler  to  our  fauna. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  One  or  more  of  the  outer  wing-quills  attenuate.     Crown  in  adult  with  concealed  red  or 
yellow  patch.     See  2. 

1.  No  attenuate  wing-quills;  no  crown-patch.     See  3. 

2.  Tail  deeply  forked,  much  longer  than  wings.     Muscivora.* 

2.  Tail  not  forked,  shorter  than  wings.     Tyrannus. 

3.  Wings  and  tail  with  chestnut.     Length  8  or  more.     Myiarchus. 
3.  Wings  and  tail  without  chestnut.     Length  less  than  8.     See  4. 


*Includes  the  Fork-tailed  flycatcher  (M.  tyrannus)  of  tropical  America,  with  tail-feathers  black,  and 
the  Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher  (M.  forficatus)  of  the  southwestern  United  States,  with  tail-feathers  chiefly 
white.  Both  species  have  been  known  to  straggle  as  far  north  as  New  Jersey,  or  even  farther.  Both  are 
about  the  size  of  a  Kingbird. 


4.  Wing  at  least  six  times  as  long  as  tarsus.     See  5. 

4.  Wing  not  more  than  five  times  as  long  as  tarsus.     See  6. 

5.  A  white  cottony  patch  on  each  side  of  rump;  length  more  than  7  inches.     Nuttattornis. 

5.  No  white  patch  on  each  side  of  rump;  length  less  than  7.     Myiochanes. 

6.  Length  7  or  more.     Sayornis. 
6.  Length  6  or  less.     Empidonax. 

Genus  Tyrannus  (Lacep.) 

The  genus  includes  a  few  flycatchers  with  long  wings,  comparatively  short  tail, 
and  a  concealed  crown-patch.  One  species  is  common  with  us,  and  another  may 
very  possibly  occur  in  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  State  as  a  straggler. 

1.  Blackish  above,  tail  conspicuously  tipped  with  white.     Kingbird,  Tyrannus  tyrannus. 
1.  Plumbeous  gray  above.     Tail  not  tipped  with  white.     Gray  Kingbird,  Tyrannus  dominicensis. 
(The  latter  ranges  as  far  north  as  South  Carolina  on  the  coast.) 

187.  Tyrannus  tyrannus  (Linn.}.    KINGBIRD;  "BEE-MARTIN." 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  grayish  slate-color,  darker  on  the  head  and  upper  tail-coverts; 
head  with  a  concealed  orange-red  crest;  tail  black,  tipped  with  white;  underparts  white,  washed 
with  grayish  on  the  breast.  Im. — Similar,  but  without  the  crown-patch,  and  with  the  plumage 
more  or  less  tinged  with  ochraceous-buff.  The  male  has  two  outer  primaries  deeply  emarginate 
at  the  tip,  the  female  usually  only  one,  the  immature  bird  none.  L.,  8.51;  W.,  4.64;  T.,  3.55; 
B.  from  N.,  .55.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range  in  United  States. — Chiefly  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  breeding  wherever  found. 


FIG.  158.     KINGBIRD. 

The  Kingbird  is  found  throughout  the  whole  State  in  summer,  arriving  from 
the  south  usually  about  the  middle  of  April,  except  in  the  mountains,  where  it 
reaches  its  breeding  grounds  late  in  April  or  early  in  May. 

It  breeds  in  June,  building  its  nest  in  the  fork  of  a  small  tree,  or  saddling  it  on 
the  outstretched  limb  of  a  larger  one.  The  nest  is  made  of  weed  stems,  often  with 
much  cotton,  cattail  fluff,  or  other  soft  material.  The  eggs  are  usually  three  in 
number,  of  a  creamy-white  ground-color,  spotted  near  the  larger  end  with  rich 
umber  and  chestnut-red.  The  average  size  is  .97  x  .70.  After  the  breeding  season, 
the  bird  soon  leaves  the  State,  not  having  been  recorded  later  than  September  19. 

The  Kingbird  is  much  less  common  in  the  vicinity  of  Raleigh  than  formerly, 
and  Collett  states  that  it  decreased  in  Cherokee  County  for  a  time,  but  of  late 
appears  to  be  increasing. 


204  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  name  "Kingbird "  is  given  to  this  flycatcher  on  account  of  its  habit  of  attack- 
ing larger  birds,  such  as  hawks,  crows,  and  vultures,  and  driving  them  from  the 
neighborhood  of  its  nest.  It  accomplishes  this  feat  by  its  superior  powers  of  flight, 
which  enable  it  to  make  matters  so  uncomfortable  for  the  larger  bird  that  a  rapid 
retreat  becomes  necessary  to  insure  safety  from  discomfiture.  It  will  occasionally 
even  alight  on  the  back  of  a  Turkey  Vulture  in  its  eagerness  to  drive  the  tres- 
passer away. 

Genus  Myiarchus  (Cab.) 

188.  Myiarchus  crinitus  (Linn.).    CRESTED  FLYCATCHER. 

Description. — Olivaceous  above,  with  bright  chestnut  on  wings  and  tail,  breast  ashy  gray, 
belly  clear  yellow.  Head  somewhat  puffy,  but  not  really  crested.  Measurements  of  30 
Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  7.75-9.00;  W.,  3.40-4.25;  T.,  3.60-3.75. 

Range  in  United  States. — Eastern  United  States  in  summer,  east  of  the  Great  Plains. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  breeding  everywhere. 


FIG.  159.     CRESTED  FLYCATCHER. 

The  Crested  Flycatcher  is  a  common  summer  visitor  throughout  the  State, 
arriving  in  spring  a  little  earlier  than  the  Kingbird,  namely,  about  the  middle  of 
April  over  the  greater  portion  of  the  State  and  a  little  later  in  the  mountain  region. 
In  fall  it  has  been  observed  as  late  as  September. 

Unlike  the  other  members  of  its  family,  this  species  makes  its  nest  in  holes  in 
trees,  often  in  the  cavities  of  old  apple  trees.  The  nesting  period  is  in  late  May 
and  in  June,  and  the  nest  is  composed  of  fine  grass,  lined  with  feathers  or  hair. 
Many  individual  pairs  have  a  habit  of  using  a  shed  snakeskin  in  the  composition  of 
the  nest.  The  eggs  are  usually  five  in  number,  occasionally  four  or  six,  and  are 
quite  different  in  color  and  markings  from  those  of  any  other  of  our  birds,  being 
buffy  brown  in  ground-color,  streaked  lengthwise  with  well  defined  lines  and  mark- 
ings of  purple  and  dark  brown. 

Unlike  the  Kingbird,  which  frequents  open  country,  the  Crested  Flycatcher  is 
chiefly  a  woodland  bird,  although  it  by  no  means  despises  orchards  and  groves  as 
breeding  localities. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  205 


Genus  Sayornis  (Gray) 
189.  Sayornis  phcebe  (Lath.).    PHCEBE;  "PEWEE." 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  grayish  brown  with  an  olive-green  cast;  crown  distinctly 
darker,  fuscous;  wings  and  tail  fuscous,  wing-bars  not  conspicuous;  outer  vane  of  outer  tail- 
feather  white  or  yellowish  white,  except  at  the  tip;  underparts  white,  more  or  less  washed  with 
yellowish,  and  tinged  with  brownish  gray  on  the  breast  and  sides;  bill  black.  Im.  and  Ads.  in 
winter. — Similar,  but  upperparts  more  olive,  underparts  more  yellow,  and  wing-bars  more 
distinct.  L.,  6.99;  W.,  3.38*T.,  2.95;  B.  from  N.,  .41. 

Remarks. — The  Phoebe's  principal  distinguishing  characters  are  its  fuscous  crown-cap,  white 
outer  vane  of  the  outer  tail-feather,  and  blackish  lower  mandible.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.} 

Range  in  United  States. — -East  of  the  Mississippi;  breeding  throughout  its  range,  except  in 
the  more  southern  portion. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons,  except  parts  of  the  mountain  region 
in  winter,  but  not  common  in  the  east  in  summer. 


FIG.  160.     PHCEBE. 

The  Phoebe  is  one  of  the  most  familiar  summer  birds  of  the  mountains,  breed- 
ing often  on  the  beams  or  rafters  of  barns  and  under  bridges.  The  nest  is  com- 
pactly and  neatly  built  of  mud  and  various  vegetable  substances,  with  a  lining  of 
grass  and  feathers.  One  taken  April  20,  1892,  near  Raleigh  was  situated  on  a 
slight  ledge  in  the  vertical  side  of  a  large  bowlder  near  Neuse  River,  and  was 
composed  of  green  moss,  cotton,  fine  grass,  and  weed  stems  felted  together,  making 
a  deep,  almost  cup-shaped  nest.  A  pair  used  to  nest  in  the  side  of  an  old  dry  well 
close  to  a  house  formerly  occupied  by  C.  S.  Brimley. 

The  eggs  are  four  or  five  in  number,  pure  white,  usually  unspotted,  but  some- 
times with  a  few  reddish  spots  near  the  larger  end.  The  average  size  is  .80  x  .50. 
We  have  few  actual  breeding  dates,  but  the  nesting  season  appears  from  these  to 
be  from  the  middle  of  April  to  the  end  of  May. 

In  winter  the  Phcebe  feeds  to  a  large  extent  on  berries,  although,  like  other  fly- 
catchers, it  is  almost  exclusively  insectivorous  at  other  seasons. 

Genus  Nuttallornis  (Ridgw.) 
190.  Nuttallornis  borealis  (Swains.).     OLIVE-SIDED  FLYCATCHER. 

Description. — Slaty  brown  above,  with  darker  streaks.  Middle  line  of  belly  distinctly  and 
abruptly  white;  otherwise  grayish  below.  A  conspicuous  tuft  of  cottony  white  feathers  on  each 
side  of  rump,  usually  concealed  by  the  wings.  L.,  7.50;  W.,  4.25;  T.,  3.00. 


206  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Range  in  United  Stales. — Whole  country  in  migrations,  but  not  common.  In  summer  only 
on  the  northern  border  and  the  higher  mountains. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Portions  of  the  mountain  region  in  summer. 

The  Olive-sided  Flycatcher  is  quite  a  rare  bird,  and  in  this  State  has  been  re- 
corded from  Highlands,  where  Brewster  found  it  late  in  May,  1885,  settled  down 
and  apparently  preparing  to  breed.  (Auk,  Jan.,  1886,  p.  105.)  C.  L.  Boynton 
also  records  it  as  nesting  near  this  place  and  as  having  been  first  seen  on  April  25. 
Cairns  states  that  it  bred  on  the  Black  Mountains  in  Buncombe  County,  and  says 
it  was  first  observed  near  Weaverville  in  1886,  on  April  19.  Rhoads  in  1895  saw 
one  on  Roan  Mountain. 

The  nest  resembles  that  of  the  Wood  Pewee,  though  larger.  It  is  saddled  on 
the  horizontal  limb  of  some  pine,  spruce,  hemlock,  or  other  conifer,  usually  at  a 
considerable  height  from  the  ground.  The  eggs  are  commonly  three  in  number,  laid 
in  June  or  early  July,  and  in  color  much  resemble  those  of  the  Wood  Pewee.  They 
measure  about  .80  x  .60. 

Genus  Myiochanes  (C.  &  H.) 
191.  Myiochanes  virens  (Linn.).    WOOD  PEWEE. 

Description. — Olive  brown  above,  paler  below.  Known  from  other  small  flycatchers  by 
the  short  legs  and  long  wings,  as  well  as  by  its  well-known  notes,  which  may  be  represented 
by  pe-weeee,  or  pe-de-weeee,  the  latter  being  perhaps  the  nearer  to  nature.  Measurements 
of  33  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  5.80-6.40;  W.,  3.00-3.50;  T.,  2.40-2.75. 

Range  in  United  States. — East  of  the  Great  Plains  in  summer;  breeds  throughout  its  range. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  breeding  everywhere. 


PIG.  161.     WOOD  PEWEE. 

The  Wood  Pewee  is  the  most  common  of  all  our  flycatchers,  arriving  in  the 
State  from  the  south  (Mexico,  Central  and  South  America),  where  it  spends  the 
winter,  about  the  last  week  in  April,  while  the  last  birds  do  not  leave  in  autumn 
until  October.  (Latest  dates  are,  at  Raleigh,  October  13;  Weaverville,  October  5; 
Durham,  October  23.) 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


The  birds  breed  in  late  May  or  June,  the  compact  nest,  which  is  externally  cov- 
ered with  gray  lichens,  being  saddled  on  the  limb  of  some  pine,  oak,  or  other  tree, 
usually  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  ground.  The  eggs  are  three  in  number, 
of  a  creamy-white  ground-color,  marked  chiefly  about  the  larger  end  with  spots  of 
reddish  brown,  burnt  umber,  and  lilac,  forming  a  wreath.  Size,  .75  x  .55. 

There  are  probably  few  people  of  our  State  who  have  not  noticed  this  bird  sit- 
ting upright  on  some  stake  or  dead  limb,  turning  its  head  from  side  to  side  on  the 
lookout  for  any  stray  insect  that  may  come  flying  past.  A  moment  later  you  may 
see  it  dart  from  its  perch  and  after  a  few  quick  turns,  the  sharp  snap  of  the  bill 
can  be  heard,  indicating  that  the  desired  insect  has  been  captured.  Complacently 
the  captor  returns  to  its  perch  and  with  a  satisfied  pee-dee-wee  resumes  its  watch. 
Pearson  observed  a  Wood  Pewee  at  Guilford  College  capture  thirty-six  insects  in 
a  period  of  five  minutes. 

Genus  Empidonax  (Cab.) 

This  group  contains  a  number  of  small  flycatchers  (none  being  as  large  as  the 
Wood  Pewee)  which  are  much  alike  in  general  appearance.  Their  movements, 
notes,  and  breeding  habits  are,  however,  by  no  means  alike;  hence  in  spring,  when 
birds  are  noisy,  it  is  easier  to  distinguish  them  than  at  other  times.  Of  our  four 
species,  two  have  been  taken  only  in  the  mountain  region,  and  but  one  of  the  others 
is  at  all  common.  This  is  the  Acadian  or  Green-crested  Flycatcher,  which  is  found 
regularly  in  summer  in  all  parts  of  the  State. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Underparts  distinctly  yellow.     Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher. 

1.  Underparts  not  distinctly  yellow.     See  2. 

2.  Longest  primary  nearly  an  inch  longer  than  secondaries.     Plumage  olive-green.     Acadian 

Flycatcher. 

2.  Longest  primary  not  more  than  %  inch  longer  than  secondaries,  plumage  not  olive-green. 

See  3. 

3.  Longest  primary  about  %  inch  longer  than  secondaries.     Bill  pale  below.     Alder  Flycatcher. 
3.  Longest   primary   about    %   mch   longer  than   secondaries.     Bill  dark  below.     Least  Fly- 
catcher. ^J 

192.  Empidonax  flaviventris  (Baird.)     YELLOW-BELLIED  FLYCATCHER. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  rather  dark  olive-green;  wings  and  tail  fuscous;  greater  and 
lesser  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white  or  yellowish  white;  underparts  sulphur-yellow,  the  belly 
pure,  the  throat,  breast,  and  sides  more  or  less  washed  with  olive-green;  upper  mandible  black, 
lower  mandible  whitish  or  flesh-color;  second  to  fourth  primaries  of  equal  length,  the  first 
shorter  than  the  fifth.  Im. — Yellow  of  the  underparts  brighter,  wing-bars  more  yellow,  and 
sometimes  tinged  with  pale  ochraceous-buff.  L.,  5.63;  W.,  2.65;  T.,  2.16;  B.  from  N.,  .33. 

Remarks. — This  is  the  most  yellow  of  our  small  flycatchers.  In  any  plumage  the  entire 
underparts,  including  the  throat,  are  sulphur-yellow  or  dusky  yellowish.  In  the  other  eastern 
species  of  this  genus  the  throat  is  white.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range  in  United  States. — -In  summer  the  northern  tier  of  States  and  the  higher  mountains, 
east  of  the  Mississippi,  passing  through  the  whole  East  during  the  migrations  to  reach  these 
breeding  grounds,  but  not  often  seen. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — A  lare  transient  in  the  mountains. 

The  Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher  breeds  from  the  mountains  of  Pennsylvania  north- 
ward. The  nest,  unlike  those  of  our  other  flycatchers,  is  not  placed  in  a  tree  or 
bush,  but  is  imbedded  in  a  bank,  or  stump,  or  among  the  roots  of  an  upturned  tree. 


208  BIRDS  OF  ]^ORTH  CAROLINA 


and  apparently  always  in  a  boggy  or  swampy  place.  The  eggs  are  four  in  number, 
laid  in  mid-June  or  later,  and  from  the  descriptions  appear  to  resemble  those  of 
the  Acadian  Flycatcher,  in  size,  color,  and  markings. 


FIG.   162.     YELLOW-BELLIED  FLYCATCHER. 

In  the  Northern  States  it  reaches  its  breeding  grounds  in  late  May,  and  begins 
to  leave  for  its  winter  home  in  Mexico  and  Central  America  in  August.  It  has 
been  recorded  only  once  from  North  Carolina,  when  Cairns  took  a  female  in  Bun- 
combe County,  August  11,  1890. 

193.  Empidonax  virescens  (Vieill.},    ACADIAN  FLYCATCHER. 

Description. — Upperparts  between  olive-green  and  dark  olive-green;  wings  and  tail  fuscous; 
greater  and  lesser  wing-coverts  yellowish  white,  forming  two  conspicuous  wing-bars;  under- 
parts  white,  washed  with  pale  yellowish  and  slightly  tinged  with  greenish  on  the  breast;  the 
throat,  and  frequently  the  middle  of  the  belly,  pure  white;  upper  mandible  black,  lower  man- 
dible whitish  or  flesh-colored;  second  to  fourth  primaries  of  about  equal  length,  the  first  and 
fifth  shorter  and  also  of  equal  length.  Im. — Upperparts  greener;  underparts  more  tinged  with 
yellow;  wing-bars  and  outer  edges  of  the  tips  of  the  secondaries  ochraceous-buff.  L.,  5.75;  W., 
2.85;  T.,  2.35;  B.  from  N.,  .36. 


FIG.  163.     ACADIAN  FLYCATCHER. 

Remarks. — This  species  has  the  upperparts  fully  as  olive-green  as  the  Yellow-bellied  Fly- 
catcher, but  the  underparts  are  never  entirely  yellow,  and  the  throat  is  always  white.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range  in  United  States. — Eastern  States,  including  the  Mississippi  Valley,  in  summer;  not 
found  in  the  extreme  northern  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  breeding  wherever  found. 

The  Acadian  Flycatcher  is  the  only  one  of  its  genus  which  is  generally  common 
in  this  State.  It  arrives  from  its  winter  sojourn  in  Mexico  or  South  America 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  209 


about  the  end  of  April  or  in  the  first  days  of  May,  and  has  been  known  to  remain 
with  us  as  late  as  September  11.  The  nest  is  a  shallow,  saucer-shaped  structure, 
attached  by  the  edges  to  the  fork  of  a  drooping  limb  of  a  dogwood,  beech,  or 
other  favorite  tree.  It  is  a  frail,  light  structure — so  thin,  in  fact,  that  the  eggs 
can  frequently  be  seen  through  the  bottom  of  the  nest  from  below.  The  rim  of  the 
nest  is  contracted  and  the  contents  are  thus  prevented  from  rolling  out.  The  eggs 
are  usually  three  in  number,  of  a  buffy  ground-color,  ornamented  with  reddish- 
brown  spots,  often  in  a  wreath,  near  the  big  end.  Size  .71  x  .53. 

The  bird's  characteristic  note  is  an  explosive  chip  or  chup,  uttered  when  it 
is  at  rest,  and  usually  accompanied  with  a  jerk  of  the  tail.  It  also  makes  a  noise 
with  its  wings  when  flying  from  one  perch  to  another,  somewhat  like  that  produced 
by  a  dove  when  taking  wing.  Its  favorite  haunts  are  dense  woods,  especially  those 
along  small  woodland  streams. 

194.  Empidonax  trailli  alnorum  (Brewst.}.    ALDER  FLYCATCHER. 

Description. — Olive-brown  above,  first  wing-quill  shorter  than  fifth.  Underparts  whitish, 
a  suggestion  of  gray  on  the  breast  and  belly,  washed  with  whitish.  Extreme  measurements 
of  4  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  5.35-6.00;  W.,  2.65-2.85;  T.,  1.75-2.25. 

Range  in  United  States. — -Breeds  from  Northern  States  northward;  winters  south  of  the 
United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Has  so  far  been  taken  only  in  Wake  and  Buncombe  counties 
during  the  migrations. 


Fia.   164.     ALDER  FLYCATCHER. 

The  Traill's,  or  Alder  Flycatcher,  resembles  the  Wood  Pewee  more  than  the  other 
small  flycatchers,  but,  besides  being  smaller,  it  possesses  wings  decidedly  shorter 
and  legs  that  are  distinctly  longer.  In  this  State  it  has  thus  far  been  taken  only 
at  Raleigh,  on  May  14,  1892;  May  16,  1893;  September  21,  1893;  and  August  21, 
1898;  and  in  Buncombe  County  by  Cairns  in  September,  1889.  It  is  quite  unlikely 
that  it  will  ever  be  found  breeding  in  North  Carolina,  unless  perchance  in  some  of 
the  higher  mountains.  The  nest  is  said  to  be  cup-shaped,  well  made,  and  usually 
placed  in  a  fork  where  two  twigs  leave  the  main  stem  of  some  small  tree  or  bush. 
The  bird  is  partial  to  the  alder  thickets  which  grow  along  streams.  The  eggs  do 
not  materially  differ  in  appearance  from  those  of  the  two  preceding  species. 

195.  Empidonax  minimus  (W.  M.  and  S.  F.  Baird).    LEAST  FLYCATCHER. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  between  olive-green  and  olive  or  olive-brown;  wings  and 
tail  fuscous;  greater  and  lesser  wing-coverts  tinged  with  ashy  white;  underparts  whitish, 

14 


210  BIRDS  OF  JSToRTH  CAROLINA 


washed  with  dusky  grayish  on  the  breast  and  sides,  and  generally  with  a  slight  tinge  of  yellow- 
ish on  the  belly;  lower  mandibles  usually  horn-color.  Im. — Underparts  slightly  more  yellow; 
wing-bars  more  buffy.  L.,  5.41;  W.,  2.51;  T.,  2.21;  B.  from  N.,  .31. 

Remarks. — This  is  the  smallest  of  our  flycatchers.  Its  size,  the  comparative  absence  of 
yellow  on  the  underparts,  and  the  generally  horn-colored  or  brown  lower  mandibles  are  its 
chief  distinguishing  characters.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range  in  United  States. — Eastern  States,  breeding  northward.  Winters,  like  the  rest  of  the 
genus,  wholly  south  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — The  mountain  region  in  summer  between  2,000  and  4,000  feet 
elevation,  breeding  at  least  sparingly. 


PIG.   165.     LEAST  FLYCATCHER. 

The  Least  Flycatcher,  the  smallest  species  of  the  family  occurring  with  us,  is  a 
regular  summer  visitor  in  portions  of  the  mountains.  In  late  May,  1885,  Brewster 
found  it  of  sparse  but  general  distribution  in  parts  of  Buncombe,  Haywood,  Macon, 
and  Jackson  counties.  Cairns  regarded  it  as  a  rare  summer  visitor  in  Buncombe 
County,  but  in  all  his  years  of  observation  found  only  one  nest.  Rhoads  discovered 
it  breeding  on  Roan  Mountain.  C.  S.  Brimley  took  one  near  Highlands,  Macon 
County,  on  May  9,  1908,  but,  judging  from  the  size  of  the  ovaries,  it  was  probably 
a  migrant. 

We  have  only  one  record  of  the  arrival  of  this  species  in  the  State  from  its  winter 
home  in  the  south,  namely,  at  Highlands,  where  it  was  observed  by  C.  L.  Boynton 
on  April  24,  in  1886. 

This  species  is  said  to  be  less  of  a  forest-loving  bird  than  the  others  of  the  genus, 
preferring  open  country.  The  nest  is  a  compact,  cup-shaped  structure,  placed  in 
the  upright  fork  of  a  small  tree.  The  only  nest  found  by  Cairns  was  in  a  per- 
simmon tree  at  a  height  of  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  The  eggs  are  pure  white, 
usually  unspotted,  averaging  .65  x  .50. 

42.     FAMILY  ALAUDID>£.       LARKS 

A  family  of  Old  World  birds,  represented  in  America  by  one  genus  and  a  single 
species.  A  number  of  slightly  differing  geographical  races  or  subspecies  are  recog- 
nized by  ornithologists.  The  birds  most  commonly  called  "larks"  in  this  State, 
namely,  the  Meadowlark  or  "Field  Lark"  (Sturnella  magna),  and  the  Pipit  or 
"Skylark"  (Anthus  rubescens),  belong  to  other  families,  and  are  not  true  larks. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  211 


Genus  Otocoris  (Bonap.) 

The  only  species  of  this  genus  in  North  America  is  the  Horned  Lark.  It  is 
pinkish  brown  or  gray  above,  with  a  black  crescent  on  the  breast  and  a  tuft  of 
lengthened  black  feathers  on  either  side  of  occiput.  Forehead  white  or  yellow,  bor- 
dered behind  by  a  black  bar,  which  extends  on  the  sides  of  the  crown,  and  is  bor- 
dered below  by  a  broad  superciliary  light  stripe  continuous  with  the  light  color  of 
the  forehead.  In  winter  the  head  and  breast  markings  are  much  obscured  by  the 
lighter  tips  of  the  feathers  and  the  plumage  is  less  bright.  The  female  is  much 
duller  and  with  the  markings  less  distinct. 

Two  of  the  several  subspecies  occur  with  us  in  winter. 

KEY  TO  SUBSPECIES 

1.  Superciliary  stripe  more  or  less  yellow  or  yellowish.  Size  larger,  wing  of  male  averaging 
more  than  4.40  inches,  of  female  more  than  4.12.  Horned  Lark  (Otocoris  alpestris 
alpestris). 

1.  Superciliary  stripe  white.  Smaller,  wing  averaging  4.13  in  male,  3.84  in  female.  Prairie 
Horned  Lark  (Otocoris  alpestris  praticola). 

196.  Otocoris  alpestris  alpestris  (Linn.}.    HORNED  LARK. 

Description. — See  under  genus.  Average  measurements  of  26  males  from  Raleigh:  L.,  7.00- 
7.50;  W.,  4.20-4.60;  T.,  2.60-2.80.  Twenty  females  measured:  L.,  6.60-7.25;  W.,  3.20-4.20; 
T.,  2.20-2.75. 

Range  in  United  States. — Northeastern  States  in  winter,  irregularly  much  farther  south. 
Breeds  wholly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Irregularly  present  in  some  winters  in  most  parts  of  the  State. 


Fia.  166.     HORNED  LARK. 

Horned  Larks  are  winter  visitors  in  North  Carolina,  occurring  throughout  the 
State  with  more  or  less  regularity.  Flocks  were  observed  at  Raleigh  in  the  winter 
of  1884-5;  and  again  from  December  7,  1886,  to  January  14,  1887.  In  1895  they 
were  common  on  February  20.  At  Chapel  Hill  two  were  taken  by  Pearson,  Novem- 
ber 23,  1898,  and  at  Pea  Island  Bishop  took  three  on  February  7  and  8,  1901. 

The  Horned  Lark,  except  in  the  breeding  season,  always  goes  in  large  flocks,  and 
invariably  frequents  open  fields.  It  is  one  of  the  birds  which  walk  rather  than  hop. 


212 


197.  Otocoris  alpestris  praticola  (Hensh.).    PRAIRIE  HORNED  LARK. 

Description. — See  under  genus.  Average  measurements  of  9  males  from  Raleigh:  L.,  6.90- 
7.25;  W.,  4.00-4.25;  T.,  2.60-2.85.  Average  of  20  females  from  Raleigh:  L.,  6.40-7.00;  W., 
3.75-4.15;  T.,  2.40-2.75. 

Range  in  United  States. — Upper  Mississippi  Valley  to  New  York  in  summer;  in  winter  more 
or  less  regularly  to  the  Carolinas. 

Range  in  North  Carolina.— Same  as  the  preceding. 


. 
FIG.   167.     PEAEIE  HOENED  LARK. 

The  Prairie  Horned  Lark  has  been  taken  in  this  State,  in  company  with  the 
preceding,  at  Raleigh  in  December,  1886,  and  January,  1887;  also  on  February  20, 
1895,  and  February  11,  1895.  At  Southern  Pines  a  flock  was  observed  on  Feb- 
ruary 19  and  20,  1902,  by  C.  H.  Morrell  (Auk,  July,  1902,  p.  289).  Cairns  called 
it  a  rare  winter  visitor  in  Buncombe  County. 

Horned  Larks  are  found  most  commonly  in  North  Carolina  during  very  cold 
winters. 

43.    FAMILY  CORVIDyC.      CROWS  AND  JAYS 

This  family  includes  an  extensive  and  cosmopolitan  group  of  birds  that  agree  in 
having  the  feathers  which  cover  the  nostrils  directed  forward. 

They  are  divided  into  two  groups:  the  Crows,  which  have  the  plumage  mainly 
or  entirely  black,  are  of  comparatively  large  size,  and  have  the  wings  much  longer 
than  the  tail;  and  the  Jays,  which  have  the  plumage  usually  varied,  often  blue  or 
bluish,  are  of  medium  size,  and  have  the  tail  as  long  as  or  longer  than  the  wings. 

From  an  economic  standpoint,  the  Crows  and  Jays  have  rather  bad  reputations 
as  robbers  of  other  birds'  nests,  to  some  extent  sustained  by  facts.  Their  other 
reputed  bad  habit,  that  of  destroying  newly  planted  or  just  sprouting  grain,  seems 
to  be  abundantly  offset  by  the  great  number  of  white  grubs,  wireworms,  and  cut- 
worms which  they  destroy. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Plumage  wholly  black.     Wings  much  longer  than  tail.     Corvus. 
1.  Plumage  mainly  blue.     Wings  about  as  long  as  tail.     Cyanocitta. 


Plate    16 


BLUE    JAY.      Cyanocit 


ristata   (Linn.) 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  213 


Genus  Cyanocitta  (Strickl.) 

198.  Cyanocitta  cristata  cristata  (Linn.}.    BLUE  JAY. 

Description. — Blue  above,  white  below,  collar  black.  Wings  and  tail  blue,  barred  with  blackish. 
Head  crested.  Outer  tail-feathers  and  secondaries  tipped  with  white.  Measurements  of  23 
Blue  Jays  from  Raleigh:  L.,  10.50-11.75;  W.,  4.85-5.30;  T.,  4.75-5.40. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  east  of  the  Great  Plains. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons. 

The  Blue  Jay,  more  generally  known  in  North  Carolina  as  "Jaybird,"  is  com- 
mon in  all  parts  of  the  State,  but  perhaps  more  plentiful  in  the  mountains,  where 
in  many  towns — as,  for  instance,  Hendersonville  and  Highlands — it  is  an  abundant 
bird  in  the  gardens  and  groves. 

The  Blue  Jay  breeds  in  April  and  May,  building  its  nest  of  twigs,  leaves,  roots, 
rags,  cotton,  wool,  or  other  materials.  It  is  a  large  and  not  over-tidy  structure, 
placed  often  in  small  trees,  but  more  frequently  in  large  ones.  The  eggs  are  four 
or  five  in  number,  olive-brown  in  color,  thickly  spotted  with  darker  shades;  and 
measure  about  1.10  x  .85. 

The  harsh  screaming  notes  of  this  bird  are  well  known  to  all.  It  has  a  wide 
range  of  calls,  one  of  which  strongly  suggests  the  scream  of  the  Red-shouldered 
Hawk. 

It  enjoys  a  wide  variety  of  food,  which  includes  acorns,  berries,  and  the  yoilng 
of  other  birds. 

Genus  Corvus  (Linn.) 

Plumage  entirely  black  in  our  species.  Wings  long  and  pointed,  much  longer 
than  the  tail.  Birds  of  large  size,  the  largest  of  our  perching  birds,  the  wing  always 
more  than  nine  inches. 

The  crows  are  well  known  as  shy,  wary  birds  of  apparently  unusual  intelligence. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Feathers  of  throat  lanceolate,  distinct  from  one  another.    Size  large,  wing  more  than  15  inches. 
Northern  Raven. 

1.  Feathers  of  throat  short,  the  webs  blended.    Size  smaller,  wing  less  than  13  inches.     See  2. 

2.  Gloss  of  plumage  purplish  violet.    Wing  12  or  more.     Whole  State.    Crow. 

2.  Gloss  of  plumage  green  and  violet.    Wing  11^  or  less.    Coastwise  only.    Fish  Crow. 

199.  Corvus  corax  principalis  (Ridgw.}.    NORTHERN  RAVEN. 

Description. — Plumage  wholly  black.  Feathers  of  throat  narrow  and  pointed.  L.,  24.00; 
W.,  17.00;  T.,  9.75. 

Range  in  United  States. — Eastern  United  States,  mainly  in 'the  mountains  from  New  England 
to  northern  Georgia.  Another  subspecies  occurs  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Mountainous  parts  of  the  State. 

Ravens  in  this  State  are  now  confined  to  the  mountains,  where  they  have  been 
recorded  at  various  places.  In  Buncombe  County  Cairns  said  it  was  common  in 
1891  and  bred  on  Craggy  Mountain.  On  Roan  Mountain  birds  were  noted  near 
the  summit  by  Rhoads  in  1895.  At  Tryon  one  was  seen  by  Loomis,  February  15, 
1907.  On  Grandfather  Mountain  one  was  seen  by  Metcalf,  September  10, 1908,  and 


214 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Ravens  were  said  by  Wayne  to  breed  there.  (Auk,  Jan.,  1910,  p.  85.)  Bruner  and 
Feild  found  ravens  on  Roan  Mountain,  June  29,  1911.  Besides  these  definite 
localities,  Brewster  stated  that  in  1885  it  was  common  in  the  portion  of  the  State  he 
visited  (parts  of  Macon,  Jackson,  Haywood,  and  Buncombe  counties) ,  everywhere 
above  5,000  feet.  There  is  a  mounted  specimen  in  the  State  Museum  at  Raleigh 
which  came  from  Topton,  in  Cherokee  County,  in  April,  1906.  It  was  a  fully- 
feathered  young  bird  when  received,  and  it  was  kept  alive  for  more  than  a  year. 
During  its  captivity  its  food  consisted  entirely  of  animal  matter,  all  kinds  of  vege- 
table food  being  consistently  refused. 


FIG.   168.     NORTHERN  RAVEN. 

A  second  specimen  reached  the  Museum  on  February  9,  1912.  This  came  from 
Bushnell,  in  Swain  County.  It  had  been  caught  in  a  steel  trap  and  died  on  the 
night  of  its  arrival  at  the  Museum. 

The  first  of  these  two  specimens  was  a  male;  the  second  an  adult  female,  with 
ovaries  not  showing  any  indication  of  early  nesting. 

The  Raven  formerly  inhabited  the  coast,  and  in  the  eighties  there  was  a  mounted 
specimen  in  the  possession  of  Clarke  and  Morgan,  taxidermists,  at  New  Bern,  said 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  215 


to  have  been  taken  in  Craven  County.  H.  H.  Brimley  saw  some  near  Beaufort  on 
June  4  and  8,  1892,  which  appear  to  have  been  the  last  recorded  in  that  region. 

This  bird  usually  builds  its  nest  on  cliffs  in  the  most  inaccessible  situations,  the 
structure  being  composed  of  large  sticks,  lined  with  coarse  grass  and  wool.  The 
same  nest  is  used  many  years  in  succession.  The  eggs  are  four  or  five  in  number, 
of  a  pale  bluish  green  or  light  olive-green,  spotted,  blotched,  or  streaked  with  purple 
and  greenish  brown.  Size  about  1.90  x  1.30. 

The  Raven  feeds  readily  on  carrion.  It  also  eats  small  mammals,  young  birds, 
snails,  and  other  animal  food. 

200.  Corvus  brachyrhynchos  brachyrhynchos  (Brehm).    CROW. 

Description. — Black.  Gloss  of  plumage  purplish  violet,  duller  beneath.  L..  19.25:  W.,  12.20, 
T.,  7.50. 

Range  in  United  States. — Whole  country,  except  here  and  there  locally. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons,  except  on  the  higher  mountains. 


FIG.  169.     CROW. 

The  Crow  is  doubtless  the  best  known  bird  in  North  Carolina.  It  breeds  in 
April  or  May,  usually  building  its  nest  in  the  top  of  a  tall  pine  tree  growing  in  a 
retired  situation.  The  nest  is  a  heavy,  compact  structure,  composed  of  twigs  and 
sticks  and  lined  with  leaves  and  grass.  The  eggs  are  four  to  six  in  number,  in 
color  varying  from  pale  bluish  to  an  olive-green  and  thickly  spotted  and  blotched 
with  dark  brown.  Size  1.70  x  1.20. 

The  Crow  is  a  bird  of  varied  diet,  not  despising  the  farmer's  newly  planted  corn, 
nor  the  eggs  and  young  of  other  birds.  It  is  also  quite  partial  to  grubworms,  cut- 
worms, wireworms,  and  other  insects,  by  the  destruction  of  which  it  is  of  no  small 
service  to  the  farmer. 

Pearson  has  known  individual  Crows  to  become  of  great  annoyance  to  poultry 
raisers,  by  developing  a  most  unpleasant  habit  of  eating  newly  hatched  chickens, 
and  H.  H.  Brimley  reports  the  killing  of  young  Turkeys  by  Crows  near  White  Lake. 
In  the  light  of  all  its  misdeeds,  the  Crow  will  evidently  have  to  eat  many  injurious 
insects  if  the  balance  of  popular  sentiment  is  to  swing  in  its  favor. 


216  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


201.  Corvus  ossifragus  (Wils.).    FISH  CROW. 

Description. — Entire  plumage  black,  with  steel-blue  or  deep  purplish  reflections,  generally 
more  greenish  on  the  underparts.  L.,  16.00;  W.,  11.00;  T.,  6.40;  B.,  1.50. 

Remarks. — The  Fish  Crow  may  be  distinguished  from  the  common  crow  (1)  by  its  smaller 
size.  (2)  By  the  uniform  and  somewhat  richer  color  of  the  back.  In  brachyrhynchos  the  feathers 
of  the  back  have  dull  tips;  when  the  freshly  plumaged  bird  is  held  between  the  observer  and  the 
light  these  tips  give  the  back  a  ringed  or  slightly  scaled  appearance.  In  ossifragus  these  tips  are 
wanting,  and  the  back  is  uniformly  colored.  (3)  By  the  brighter  color  of  the  underparts.  In 
brachyrhynchos  the  underparts  are  generally  much  duller  than  the  upperparts;  in  ossifragus 
they  are  nearly  as  bright.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range  in  United  States. — Eastern  and  southern  coasts  from  New  York  to  Louisiana. 

Mange  in  North  Carolina. — Coast  region  only,  where  it  is  resident. 

The  Fish  Crow,  a  somewhat  smaller  bird  than  the  foregoing  species,  is  a  common 
resident  along  our  coastal  region,  nesting  in  trees  in  suitable  situations.  The  nests 
and  eggs  are  similar  to  those  of  the  common  crow,  but  the  latter  are  smaller,  aver- 
aging only  1.50  x  1.10. 

The  feeding  habits  of  Fish  Crows  are  similar  to  those  of  its  larger  relative,  but,  on 
account  of  a  different  habitat,  they  also  feast  upon  fish,  crabs,  and  other  creatures 
that  are  washed  ashore  by  the  waves.  They  also  plunder  the  heron  and  cormorant 
rookeries,  eating  the  eggs  when  the  parents  are  absent  from  their  nests.  Pearson 
has  found  their  nests  late  in  April  and  May  in  Dare,  Hyde,  and  Carteret  counties. 
He  observed  that  if  you  found  one  Fish  Crow's  nest  in  a  grove  it  was  frequently 
the  case  that  a  search  would  reveal  perhaps  half  a  dozen  others  within  a  short 
distance. 

The  Starling,  Sturnus  vulgaris,  so  far  as  we  are  aware,  has  not  yet  been  recorded  from  North 
Carolina.  This  European  species  was  first  introduced  into  this  country  in  1890,  when  Eugene 
Schieffelin  liberated  sixty  in  Central  Park,  New  York  City.  Since  that  time  it  has  increased 
rapidly  in  numbers  and  its  range  has  extended  in  a  southerly  direction  as  far  as  Newport  News, 
Va.  We  may,  therefore,  expect  it  to  appear  in  North  Carolina  at  any  time.  The  Starling  is 
about  eight  and  one-half  inches  in  length.  In  general  appearance  it  is  a  short,  metallic-purplish, 
black  bird,  and  is  usually  heavily  covered  with  creamy  white  spots.  To  the  minds  of  many 
ornithologists  this  bird  bids  fair  to  become  as  great  a  nuisance  in  the  United  States  as  the 
English  Sparrow.  The  Starling  belongs  to  the  family  Sturnidce,  of  which  it  is  the  only  repre- 
sentative in  the  United  States. 

44.    FAMILY  ICTERID/E.      BLACKBIRDS,  ORIOLES,  ETC. 

This  is  a  family  of  medium-sized  birds,  intermediate  in  some  respects  between 
the  Crows  on  the  one  hand  and  the  Finches  on  the  other,  but  perhaps  in  most 
respects  nearer  the  latter.  All  are  distinctively  American  birds. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Outlines  of  bill  nearly  or  quite  straight,  the  tip  not  evidently  decurved,  the  commissure 
not    sinuate.     See  2. 

1.  Outlines  of  bill  distinctly  curved,  the  tip  decurved,  the  commissure  evidently  sinuated.    Crow 

Blackbirds.     See  6. 
2    Bill  stout,  conical,  its  depth  at  base  at  least  one-third  its  length.    See  3. 

2.  Bill  slender,  its  depth  at  base  scarcely  one-third  its  length.    See  5. 

3.  Tail-feathers  acute,  middle  toe  with  claw  longer  than  tarsus.     Bill  stout,  shorter  than  the 

head.     Dolichonyx. 

3.  Tail-feathers  not  acute,  middle  toe  with  claw  not  longer  than  tarsus.    See  4. 

4.  Bill  stout,  much  shorter  than  head.     Molothrus. 

4.  Bill  more  slender,  about  as  long  as  head.    Agelaius. 

5.  Tail  not  more  than  two-thirds  length  of  wing,  the  feathers  acute.    Breast  yellow,  with  a  black 

crescent.    Sturnella. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  217 


5.  Tail  about  as  long  as  wing,  the  feathers  not  pointed.    No  black  crescent  on  breast.    Icterus. 

6.  Tail  much  shorter  than  wing,  nearly  even.    Bill  slender,  shorter  than  head.    Euphagus. 

6.  Tail  about  as  long  as  or  longer  than  wing,  graduated,  the  middle  tail-feathers  much  the  longest. 

Bill  stout,  as  long  as  head.     See  7. 

7.  Wing  less  than  6.50  in  male,  less  than  5.25  in  female.    Quiscalus. 

7.  Wing  more  than  6.50  in  male,  not  less  than  5.25  in  female.    Megaquiscalus. 

Genus  Dolichonyx  (Swains.) 

202.  Dolichonyx  oryzivorus  (Linn.}.     BOBOLINK;  "RICEBIRD." 

Description:  Ad.  cf,  breeding  plumage.- — Top  and  sides  of  the  head  and  underparts  black, 
the  feathers  more  or  less  tipped  with  a  narrow  whitish  or  cream-buff  fringe,  which  wears  off  as 
the  season  advances;  back  of  the  neck  with  a  large  yellowish  cream-buff  patch;  middle  of  back 
generally  streaked  with  cream- buff;  scapulars,  lower  back,  and  upper  tail-coverts  soiled  grayish 
white;  wings  and  tail  black;  tail-feathers  with  pointed  tips;  bill  blue-black.  Ad.  9  . — Upperparts 
olive-buff,  streaked  with  black;  crown  blackish,  with  a  central  stripe  of  olive-buff;  nape  finely 
spotted  and  back  broadly  streaked  with  black;  wings  and  tail  brownish  fuscous;  tail-feathers  with 
pointed  tips;  underparts  yellowish  or  buffy  white.  Ads.  in  fall  and  Im. — Similar  to  female,  but 
burner  and  more  olivaceous  throughout.  L.,  7.25;  W.,  3.76;  T.,  2.73;  B.,  .55. 

Remarks. — The  young  and  adults  in  fall  plumage  are  known  as  Reed-birds.  Adults  acquire 
this  plumage  by  a  complete  molt  after  the  breeding  season.  The  breeding  plumage  is  regained 
by  a  complete  molt  in  the  spring,  and  not,  as  has  been  supposed,  by  a  change  in  the  color  of  the 
feathers  without  molting.  Freshly  plumaged  males  have  the  black  veiled  by  yellow  tips  to  the 
feathers;  these  gradually  wear  off,  and  by  June  have  almost  entirely  disappeared  (cf.  Chapman, 
Auk,  X,  1893,  309).  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — -Eastern  United  States  in  summer,  breeding  in  the  more  northern  States,  wintering  in 
South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State,  in  the  migrations  only;  most  abundant  in  the  fall  in 
the  coastal  region. 

The  Bobolink,  better  known  in  the  South  as  the  "Ricebird,"  reaches  this  State 
from  its  winter  home  in  South  America  about  the  close  of  the  third  week  in  April, 
and  often  congregates  in  the  fields  of  crimson  clover  to  feed  on  the  unripened  seeds. 
By  the  end  of  May  all  have  passed  on  to  their  breeding  grounds  farther  north. 
In  fall  they  occur  from  about  August  15  to  October  15,  being  then  seen  chiefly  in 
the  coast  region.  It  is  at  this  season  that  their  depredations  in  the  rice  fields  have 
earned  for  them  the  appropriate  name  of  Ricebird,  and  with  regard  to  this  we  can- 
not do  better  than  quote  from  the  annual  report  of  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam,  chief  of 
the  U.  S.  Biological  Survey  for  1886:  "One  of  the  most  important  industries  of  the 
Southern  States,  the  cultivation  of  rice,  is  crippled  and  made  precarious  by  the 
semi-annual  attacks  of  birds.  Many  kinds  of  birds  feed  upon  rice,  but  the  bird  that 
does  more  injury  than  all  the  rest  combined  is  the  Bobolink  of  the  North,  called 
Reed-bird  along  the  Chesapeake,  and  Ricebird  in  the  South."  Captain  Bendire  in 
Life  Histories  of  North  American  Birds,  1895,  page  431,  quotes  Captain  Hazard  of 
Annandale,  S.  C.,  in  part  as  follows:  "During  the  nights  of  August  21,  22,  23, 
and  24,  millions  of  these  birds  make  their  appearance  and  settle  in  the  rice  fields. 
From  the  21st  of  August  to  the  25th  of  September  our  every  effort  is  to  save  the 
crop.  Men,  boys,  and  women,  with  guns  and  ammunition,  are  posted  on  every 
four  or  five  acres  and  shoot  daily  an  average  of  about  one  quart  of  powder  to  the 
gun.  This  firing  commences  at  first  dawn  of  day  and  is  kept  up  till  sunset.  After 
all  this  expense  and  trouble  our  loss  of  rice  per  acre  seldom  falls  under  five  bushels, 
and  if  from  any  cause  there  is  a  check  to  the  crop  during  its  growth  which  pre- 


218 


BIRDS  OF  JSToRTH  CAROLINA 


vents  the  grain  from  being  hard,  but  in  milky  condition,  the  destruction  of  such 
fields  is  complete,  it  not  paying  to  cut  and  bring  the  rice  out  of  the  field." 

In  the  spring  of  1913,  H.  H.  Brimley  and  T.  W.  Adickes  found  Ricebirds  so 
plentiful  on  the  Orton  Plantation,  below  Wilmington,  that  the  owner  found  it 
necessary  to  protect  his  ripening  oat  crop  by  means  of  boys  with  guns.  The  birds 
were  noted  as  being  very  persistent  in  their  attacks  on  the  oats. 


FIG.  170.     BOBOLINK. 
(A  male  in  Nuptial  Plumage.) 

From  this  it  can  be  seen  how  destructive  this  bird  may  be  in  certain  sections. 
In  early  days  they  doubtless  fed  on  the  seeds  of  wild  marsh  grasses,  but  the  culti- 
vation of  rice  furnished  them  with  an  easy  and  abundant  supply  of  food  right  in 
their  path,  and  they  naturally  proceeded  to  make  use  of  it.  As  very  little  rice  is 
now  grown  in  North  Carolina,  these  birds  do  the  State  much  less  harm  than  in 
former  times;  the  same  may  now  be  said  of  South  Carolina,  and  the  above  quota- 
tions regarding  their  depredations  on  rice  are  chiefly  of  interest  as  a  matter  of 
ornithological  history. 

Although  this  bird  usually  breeds  only  in  the  Northern  States,  it  has  been  de- 
tected nesting  in  Louisiana  and  suspected  of  breeding  in  Florida,  and  in  this  con- 
nection it  may  be  interesting  to  note  that  Seeman  reports  seeing  two  males  at  Dur- 
ham on  June  17  and  one  on  June  28,  1903. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  219 


Genus  Molothrus  (Swains.) 
203.  Molothrus  ater  ater  (Bodd).    COWBIRD. 

Description. — Male,  glossy  black,  head  and  neck  brown.  Female,  smaller,  dusky  brown. 
Average  measurements  of  19  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  6.75-7.80;  W.,  3.75-4.40;  T.,  2AQ-3.15. 
The  smallest  measurements  are  those  of  the  smaller  females,  the  largest  those  of  the  biggest 
males. 

Range. — In  eastern  United  States,  breeding  on  the  Atlantic  coast  at  least,  mostly  north  of 
North  Carolina;  south  in  winter  to  Mexico. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  irregularly  in  the  migrations,  and  in  the  eastern  half 
at  least  during  the  winter  months. 


Fia.  171.     COWBIRD. 

The  Cowbird  has  been  seldom  recorded  from  the  State  of  late  years.  At  Raleigh 
it  used  to  be  rather  common  in  February  and  March,  and  for  several  years  pre- 
vious to  1889  passed  through  in  enormous  numbers,  feeding  in  company  with  the 
red-winged  blackbirds  in  newly  planted  grain-fields.  Since  then  few  have  been  seen. 
Cairns  recorded  it  at  Weaverville,  Buncombe  County,  between  February  12  and 
May  12  in  the  spring,  and  August  18  to  December  8  in  the  fall.  Collett  records  it 
from  Andrews  on  April  7,  1902.  Pearson  shot  one  near  Southport,  Brunswick 
County,  August  14,  1909,  and  saw  one  at  Parmele,  Martin  County,  August  25, 
1903.  At  Raleigh  it  has  also  been  observed  by  C.  S.  Brimley  occasionally  in  fall 
and  winter,  the  earliest  date  being  September  4,  and  latest  in  spring,  April  29. 

This  bird  lays  its  eggs  in  the  nests  of  other  birds.  A  list  of  over  ninety-two 
species  of  birds  thus  imposed  upon  is  given  by  Captain  Bendire  in  Life  Histories 
of  North  American  Birds,  pages  237-8.  The  egg  is  said  to  hatch  before  those  of 
the  owner  of  the  nest,  and  the  young  Cowbird,  which  grows  very  rapidly,  often 
smothers  or  crowds  the  other  young  birds  out  of  the  nest. 

Although  it  has  not  been  detected  breeding  in  this  State,  the  late  dates  of  May 
12  in  Buncombe  County  and  April  29  in  Wake  County,  combined  with  its  August 
records,  make  it  probable  that  it  may  breed  here  occasionally. 

Genus  Agelaius  (Vieill.) 
204.  Agelaius  phoeniceus  phoeniceus  (Linn.).    RED-WINGED  BLACKBIRD. 

Description. — Adult  male  glossy  black,  wing-coverts  scarlet  with  buffy  edgings,  male  in 
winter  with  the  black  feathers  edged  with  lighter,  more  or  less  obscuring  the  black.  Female 


220  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


dusky,  streaked.  Extreme  measurements  of  35  specimens  from  Raleigh:  L.,  7.25-9.40;  W., 
3.75-4.80;  T.,  2.75-3.80.  The  males  are  considerably  larger  than  the  females,  as  is  usual  in  the 
family. 

Range. — Temperate  North  America,  wintering  in  the  more  southern  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons,  except  in  the  mountain  region,  where 
it  is  chiefly  a  summer  visitor. 


FIG.  172.     RED-WINGED  BLACKBIRD. 

The  Red-winged  Blackbird  is  the  best  known  member  of  the  blackbird  family 
in  North  Carolina.  It  breeds  in  marshes  throughout  the  State.  In  the  mountain 
region  it  appears  to  be  only  a  summer  visitor,  arriving  in  March  or  earlier,  but  in 
the  rest  of  the  State  it  is  found  at  all  seasons,  although  the  flocks  in  winter  seem 
to  be  composed  almost  entirely  of  females.  In  February  and  March  their  numbers 
are  greatly  augmented  by  the  arrival  of  migrants  bound  northward.  At  this  season 
they  feed  to  a  great  extent  in  the  fields  of  newly  planted  grain,  probably  doing 
some  damage  by  eating  the  sprouting  seeds,  and  some  good  by  destroying  cutworms 
and  other  noxious  insects.  After  March,  their  numbers  having  been  reduced  to  the 
resident  population,  they  confine  themselves  pretty  closely  to  the  lowgrounds,  where 
they  nest  in  reeds,  cattails,  or  bushes  growing  in  marshes.  The  nests  are  composed 
of  coarse  marsh  grasses,  woven  together  into  deep  cup-shaped  structures.  The 
eggs  in  this  State  are  laid  in  May  and  June,  and  are  usually  four  in  number.  In 
color  they  are  pale  bluish,  marked  with  dots  and  lines  that  look  as  if  they  had  been 
made  with  pen  and  ink.  Size  1.00  x  .70. 

Speaking  of  this  bird,  Coues  wrote:  "In  the  breeding  season  the  'creaking- 
chorus'  makes  an  indescribable  medley." 

Genus  Sturnella  (Vieill.) 
205.  Sturnella  magna  magna  (Linn.}.    MEADOWLARK;  "FIELD  LARK." 

Description. — Much  streaked  above.  Breast  and  most  of  underparts  yellow,  a  black  crescent 
on  breast,  belly  whitish.  Extreme  measurements  of  35  specimens  from  Raleigh:  L.,  8.60-10.60; 
W.,  4.05-5.05;  T.,  2.30-3.15. 

General  Range. — -Eastern  United  States,  wintering  in  the  more  southern  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter,  in  summer  recorded  only  from  portions  of 
the  mountain  and  the  coast  regions. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  221 


This  is  a  common  winter  visitor  in  all  portions  of  the  State,  feeding  in  open 
fields  and  pastures,  and  to  some  extent  in  lowground  meadows.  It  arrives  from 
the  north  about  the  middle  of  October  and  leaves  in  April,  although  individuals 
have  been  recorded  earlier  in  fall  and  later  in  spring.  The  summer  records  are 
few  and  scattering.  Cairns  found  but  one  nest  in  Buncombe  County  in  five  years 
collecting,  while  in  the  east  Dr.  Smithwick  records  a  single  nest  found  in  Bertie 
County,  and  states  that  it  is  a  rare  breeder  near  LaGrange,  Lenoir  County.  C.  S. 
Brimley  found  the  species  near  Lake  Ellis,  Craven  County,  in  late  May,  1906-8, 
and  late  June,  1905.  Evidently  these  birds  had  settled  down  for  the  summer. 
Joseph  Armfield  reports  finding  one  or  more  nests  at  Greensboro  in  Guilford 
County,  and  Pearson  found  it  a  regular  summer  resident  there,  but  never  located 
a  nest. 

This  species  is  one  of  the  most  insectivorous  of  the  family.  Instead  of  being 
persecuted  as  a  game  bird,  it  has  always  deserved  the  fullest  protection  because  of 
its  value  as  a  destroyer  of  insects  injurious  to  the  farmer's  crops.  As  a  destroyer 
of  sprouting  corn,  the  depredations  it  commits  are  grossly  exaggerated.  It  is  now 
protected  at  all  times  under  Federal  regulations. 


Fia.   173.     MEADOWLAKK. 

The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground  under  a  tuft  of  grass,  and  is  compactly  made 
of  coarse  grass,  lined  with  finer  materials.  The  eggs  are  four  to  six  in  number,  of 
a  pure  white  ground-color,  and  more  or  less  thickly  spotted  or  dotted  with  reddish 
brown  or  purplish.  Size  1.10  x  .80.  May  and  June  are  the  nesting  months. 

The  Meadowlark  is  social  in  its  habits,  being  found  in  flocks  when  not  engaged 
in  rearing  its  young.  Its  flight  is  very  characteristic,  as  it  proceeds  by  alternately 
flapping  its  wings  and  sailing.  When  rising  from  the  ground  the  tail  is  usually 
spread,  revealing  the  white  portion  of  the  outer  tail-feathers. 

206.  Sturnella  magna  argutula  (Bangs).     SOUTHERN  MEADOWLARK. 

Description. — Similar  to  the  Meadowlark,  but  size  smaller,  and  colors  darker,  the  yellow  of 
the  underparts  much  more  intense,  and  the  upperparts  much  darker  in  color,  the  dark  central 
areas  of  the  feathers  being  much  greater  in  extent,  and  the  light  edges  much  less;  tail  and  wings 
darker,  the  barring  on  middle  tail-quills,  and  on  secondaries,  tertials,  and  wing-coverts,  much 
wider  and  more  pronounced.  W.,  4.00-4.13;  T.,  3.00. 

Range. — Austroriparian  zone  from  North  Carolina  (on  the  coast)  and  Illinois  to  Texas,  Louisi- 
ana, and  Florida. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region  in  summer;  possibly  resident. 


222  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


This  newly  recognized  subspecies  of  the  Meadowlark  finds  a  place  in  our  list 
through  the  range  given  it  by  the  latest  (1910)  edition  of  the  American  Ornitholo- 
gists' Union  Check  List. 

In  all  particulars  its  habits  of  life  do  not  differ  essentially  from  those  of  the 
foregoing  species. 

Genus  Icterus  (Briss.) 

This  is  a  numerous  genus,  many  species  of  which  occur  in  tropical  and  temperate 
America.  They  are  usually  of  bright  plumage,  the  prevailing  colors  being  a  com- 
bination of  black  and  yellow  markings.  The  bill  is  sharply  pointed,  and  the  birds 
make  use  of  it  to  weave  the  wonderfully  neat  basket-like  structures  which  serve 
them  for  nests. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Depth  of  bill  at  base,  decidedly  less  than  half  its  length.  Colors  of  adult  male,  black  and 
chestnut.  Orchard  Oriole. 

1.  Depth  of  bill  at  base  equal  to  half  its  length.  Colors  of  adult  male,  black  and  orange.  Balti- 
more Oriole. 

207.  Icterus  spurius  (Linn.}.    ORCHARD  ORIOLE. 

Description. — Adult  male  black,  the  rump,  bend  of  wing,  and  lower  parts  from  breast  down, 
deep  chestnut.  Female  yellowish  olive.  Young  male  similar  to  female,  but  throat  is  usually 
black,  and  there  are  often  other  traces  of  the  black  and  chestnut  markings  of  the  adult.  Extreme 
measurements  of  64  specimens  from  Raleigh:  L.,  6.65-7.50;  W.,  2.85-3.45;  T.,  2.65-3.00. 

General  Range. — Eastern  United  States  in  summer,  wintering  in  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  except  the  higher  mountains. 


FIG.  174.     OBCHAED  ORIOLE. 

The  Orchard  Oriole,  locally,  but  erroneously,  called  "Baltimore  Oriole"  in  this 
State,  is  a  common  summer  visitor  everywhere  east  of  the  mountains,  and  also 
in  the  lower  mountain-valleys,  but  far  more  abundant  in  the  extreme  eastern  sec- 
tion; for  instance,  thousands  of  these  birds  are  to  be  found  in  Hyde  County  around 
the  shores  of  Mattamuskeet  Lake.  It  arrives  from  its  winter  home  in  the  far  South 
about  the  last  week  in  April,  and  leaves  us  quite  early  in  the  season,  our  latest 
record  being  August  22,  at  Raleigh. 

As  its  name  indicates,  it  prefers  orchards  and  groves,  and,  like  many  other  birds, 
is  greatly  attracted  by  mulberry  trees,  the  fruit  of  which  it  much  enjoys  in  common 
with  Tanagers,  Catbirds,  Nonpareils,  and  many  others.  Its  nest  is  a  bag-shaped 
structure,  woven  of  green  grass,  which  later  turns  yellow,  giving  it  a  very  charac- 
teristic appearance.  Sometimes  it  is  lined  with  soft  materials,  but  more  often, 
perhaps,  this  special  lining  is  omitted.  The  eggs  are  usually  five  in  number,  and 
are  laid  in  late  May  or  June.  They  have  a  bluish  ground-color,  and  are  marked 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  223 


with  spots,  specks,  and  irregular  lines  of  various  shades  of  brown.  Size  .78  x  .56. 
The  nesting  site  is  usually  chosen  among  the  terminal  twigs  of  small  shade  or 
orchard  trees,  but  not  infrequently  a  willow  or  ironwood  growing  near  a  stream  is 
selected.  The  height  from  the  ground  at  which  seven  nests  at  Raleigh  were  built 
ranged  from  seven  to  twenty  feet. 

The  Orchard  Oriole  is  almost  wholly  insectivorous  in  its  diet,  and,  as  it  is  also  a 
very  melodious  singer,  it  is  well  deserving  of  human  gratitude.  It  must  be  under- 
stood, however,  that  simply  preventing  people  from  shooting  birds  will  not  alone 
keep  their  numbers  from  decreasing,  if  we  at  the  same  time  destroy  their  natural 
feeding  grounds  without  supplying  a  substitute.  For  instance,  there  was  at  one 
time  a  large  orchard  of  mulberry  trees  near  Raleigh  which  was  the  favorite  sum- 
mer resort  of  numbers  of  birds.  Later  the  orchard  was  destroyed,  and  the  birds 
also  disappeared  from  the  locality. 

208.  Icterus  galbula  (Linn.}.     BALTIMORE  ORIOLE. 

Description;  Ad.  male. — Head,  neck,  throat,  and  upper  back  black;  breast,  belly,  lower  back, 
and  lesser  wing-coverts  deep,  rich,  reddish  orange;  wings  black,  the  outer  margin  of  the  greater 
coverts  and  quills  edged  with  white;  end-half  of  middle  tail-feathers  black,  base  orange;  all  the 
others  orange,  crossed  by  a  black  band  in  the  middle.  Ad.  female. — Upperparts  brownish  or 
grayish  orange,  brighter  on  the  rump;  head  and  back  mottled  with  black;  wings  fuscous,  greater 
and  middle  coverts  tipped  with  white;  tail  like  the  rump,  the  middle  feathers  stained  with  black; 
underparts  dull  orange,  throat  sometimes  spotted  with  black.  L.,  7.53;  W.,  3.52;  T.,  2.84;  B., 
.70.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  North  Carolina;  winters  in  Mexico 
and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  sparingly  during  the  migrations,  breeding  wholly  or 
mainly  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 


FIG.  175.     BALTIMORE  ORIOLE. 

The  Baltimore  Oriole  appears  only  as  a  rare  migrant  in  the  State,  except  in  the 
mountains,  where  it  is  not  an  uncommon  summer  bird  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  At 
Raleigh  it  has  been  observed  in  late  April,  and  at  Durham  and  Chapel  Hill  in  early 
May,  while  in  faH  it  has  been  seen  at  Raleigh  only  in  late  August  and  early  Sep- 
tember. 

This  species  builds  a  deep-woven  purse-shaped  nest,  from  vegetable  or  other 
fibers,  usually  attached  by  the  rim  to  the  end  of  a  long,  drooping  limb  of  a  large 
tree.  In  this  structure,  which  is  lined  with  any  soft  material  readily  found  in  the 
neighborhood,  the  bird  deposits  four  or  five  eggs,  which  much  resemble  those  of  the 
Orchard  Oriole. 


224  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Like  the  preceding,  this  fine  bird  is  a  good  singer  and  a  determined  devourer  of 
insects,  and  is  also  deserving  of  our  fullest  protection. 

Genus  Euphagus  (Cass.) 

209.  Euphagus  carolinus  (Mull.}.     RUSTY  BLACKBIRD. 

Description. — Adult  male  in  summer,  wholly  glossy  black,  unmarked;  adult  female,  brownish 
slate  in  summer.  Winter  birds  of  both  sexes  are  similar,  but  have  the  ground-color  more  or 
less  overlaid  with  rusty  above  and  buffy  below.  Extreme  measurements  of  19  specimens  from 
Raleigh:  L.,  8.50-9.65;  W.,  4.15-4.85;  T.,  3.16-3.95. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina.— Whole  State  during  the  migrating  period  of  the  species;  winters  to- 
a  limited  extent  in  the  eastern  section. 


FIG.   176.     RUSTY  BLACKBIRD. 

The  Rusty  Blackbird  occurs  in  North  Carolina  mainly  when  migrating  in  early 
spring  and  late  fall,  but  has  been  observed  at  New  Bern  in  early  January,  1885 
(H.  H.  Brimley),  and  at  Raleigh,  January  25,  1892.  Outside  of  these  dates  our 
records  are  only  of  evidently  migrating  birds,  the  actual  dates  being  at  Weaver- 
ville,  Buncombe  County,  from  February  2  to  May  2  (Cairns);  at  Chapel  Hill, 
February  3,  1889,  and  later  (Pearson) ;  at  Pea  Island,  February  17  and  18,  1901 
(Bishop);  at  Andrews,  Cherokee  County,  February  27  and  later  (Mrs.  Wilson); 
and  at  Raleigh  from  February  15  to  April  20  in  spring,  and  from  October  17  to 
November  17  in  fall  (C.  S.  Brimley).  These  last  are  our  only  fall  records,  with 
the  exception  of  two  observed  at  Chapel  Hill,  October  17,  1900,  by  MacNider. 

The  Rusty  Blackbird  is  not  a  particularly  common  bird  in  the  State,  never 
occurring  in  really  large  flocks,  but  usually  seen  in  companies  of  not  more  than 
fifteen  or  twenty  individuals.  In  autumn  they  are  not  infrequently  found  in  woods 
feeding  on  dogwood  berries.  Later  they  sometimes  frequent  the  lowgrounds  to  feed 
on  frost  grapes.  In  spring  they  feed  much  on  the  ground  in  marshy  places,  among 
willows  or  other  bushes.  At  all  seasons  they  seem  much  easier  to  approach  than 
other  blackbirds. 

Genus  Quiscalus  (Vieill.) 

The  Crow  Blackbirds  or  Crackles  are  large  blackbirds  with  tail  and  whig  about 
equal  in  length.  The  bill  is  stout,  and  the  plumage  in  both  sexes  has  a  more  or 
less  metallic  luster. 


DESCBIPTIVE  LIST  225 


KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Color  of  head  and  neck  not  sharply  denned  against  color  of  body,  which  has  always  more  or 
less  mixed  metallic  tints.  Purple  Grackle. 

1.  Color  of  head  and  neck  uniform,  sharply  denned  against  color  of  body,  which  is  always  per- 
fectly uniform  bronze  without  mixed  metallic  tints.  Bronzed  Grackle. 

210.  Quiscalus  quiscula  quiscula  (Linn.).    PURPLE  GRACKLE. 

Description. — Iridescent  black.  Body  always  with  mixed  metallic  tints;  color  of  head  and 
neck  very  variable,  iridescent  bars  along  back.  Female  somewhat  duller.  Extreme  measure- 
ments of  31  specimens  from  Raleigh:  L.,  10.75-12.75;  W.,  4.85-5.75;  T.,  4.06-5.45. 

Range. — Atlantic  coast  of  United  States,  south  of  Connecticut,  and  east  of  the  Alleghany 
Mountains;  breeding  in  greater  or  less  numbers  throughout  its  range. 

Range  in  North  Carolina.— Whole  State,  common  during  the  migrations,  less  common  in  winter, 
and  breeding  locally  in  all  sections. 


FIG.  177.     PURPLE  GRACKLE. 

The  Purple  Grackle  or  Crow  Blackbird,  easily  distinguished  from  our  other 
inland  blackbirds  by  its  larger  size,  longer  tail,  and  hoarse  notes,  is  not  an  uncom- 
mon bird  in  most  parts  of  the  State  during  portions  of  February,  March,  October, 
and  November,  when  it  is  migrating.  As  a  breeding  bird  it  is  quite  local,  though 
known  to  breed  at  Greensboro,  in  the  grounds  of  the  Greensboro  Female  College;  in 
Craven  County  below  New  Bern;  on  Orton  Pond,  in  Brunswick  County,  and  within 
the  city  limits  of  Asheville.  It  has  also  been  twice  observed  near  Raleigh  in  June. 

The  nest  is  usually  placed  in  a  pine  or  other  coniferous  tree,  and  is  often  a  very 
bulky  structure.  Twigs  and  grass  are  the  materials  most  commonly  used  in  its  con- 
struction. Frequently  it  is  situated  at  a  considerable  height  from  the  ground,  but 
where  suitable  trees  are  not  accessible  it  will  be  placed  in  bushes  or  even  in  crevices 
in  the  sides  of  the  nest  of  the  Osprey.  The  eggs  are  four  to  six,  laid  in  our  latitude 
usually  in  April  or  early  May.  They  have  a  greenish  white  or  rusty  brown  ground- 
color, over  which  are  scattered  many  spots  and  scratches  of  black  or  chocolate. 
Size  1.18  x  .84. 

The  Purple  Grackle  is  eminently  gregarious  at  all  seasons.  In  spring  it  often 
feeds  with  other  blackbirds  on  the  newly  sown  grain-fields,  and  later  will  gather  in 
the  tops  of  tall  pines,  flying  from  one  to  another,  and  apparently  feeding  on  the 
pine  seeds.  It  nests  in  colonies  of  from  ten  to  twenty  or  more  pairs. 

15 


226  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


211.  Quiscalus  quiscula  seneus  (Ridgw.).    BKONZED  GRACKLE. 

Description. — Body  always  perfectly  uniform  bronze,  without  mixed  metallic  tints,  the  color 
sharply  defined  against  the  color  (steel-blue,  bottle-green,  etc.)  of  head  and  neck.  Female  duller. 
Extreme  measurements  of  11  specimens  from  Raleigh:  L.,  11.16-13.00;  W.,  5.16-5.85;  T.,  4.50-5.70. 

Range. — Temperate  North  America,  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Alleghanies,  and  from 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  northern  British  America,  and  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  from  Long  Island 
northward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Western  and  central  portions  during  the  migrations  only. 

So  far  as  we  are  aware,  the  Bronzed  Grackle  appears  in  this  State  only  as  a 
migrant,  specimens  having  been  taken  at  Raleigh  on  February  26,  1895,  and  from 
November  5  to  December  6  in  six  different  years.  At  Weaverville,  Buncombe 
County,  birds  were  killed  by  Cairns  from  March  10  to  30,  1890  (five  specimens 
secured  in  all). 

The  Bronzed  Grackle  which  from  its  more  extensive  distribution  and  less  vari- 
able characters  is  considered  by  many  to  be  the  original  form  from  which  the  other 
subspecies  of  the  genus  was  derived,  has  the  same  habits  as  the  Purple  Grackle, 
with  which  in  fact  it  is  usually  found  associated  in  this  State,  and  which  it  closely 
resembles. 

Genus  Megaquiscalus  (Cass.) 

212.  Megaquiscalus  major  major  (Vieill).    BOAT-TAILED  GRACKLE. 

Description. — Male  iridescent  green  and  blue.  Female  dull  dusky  brown,  lighter  beneath, 
very  much  smaller.  Measurements  of  two  males  from  Beaufort,  N.  C.:  (1)  L.,  16.00;  W.,  7.12; 
T.,  7.50;  (2)  L.,  16.12;  W.,  6.85;  T.,  6.50.  Dimensions  of  a  female  from  Beaufort:  L.,  13.75; 
W.,  5.75;  T.,  5.50. 

Range  in  United  States. — South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts,  from  Virginia  to  Texas. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — On  the  whole  coast,  not  inland;  resident. 

r  The  Boat-tailed  Grackle,  commonly  and  universally  known  in  this  State  as  the 
"Jackdaw,"  is  found  on  our  coast,  where  it  procures  its  living  along  the  beaches 
or  in  the  salt  marshes.  A  large  part  of  its  food  consists  of  small  crabs,  shrimps,  or 
other  small  sea  animals  that  are  washed  up  by  the  waves.  In  North  Carolina  the 
species  nests  in  April  and  May,  several  pairs  often  occupying  the  same  tree.  The 
eggs  are  brownish  drab,  some  tinged  with  olive,  others  with  green,  marked  with 
irregular  blotches  of  brown  and  black.  Size  about  1.24  x  .81. 

The  farthest  inland  the  species  has  been  recorded  appears  to  be  Plymouth,  on 
Roanoke  River,  about  six  miles  from  Albemarle  Sound,  where  Dr.  Smithwick  found 
it  nesting  in  small  colonies  in  April,  1890.  For  many  years  there  has  been  a  breed- 
ing colony  of  these  grackles  in  the  town  of  Beaufort.  The  species  is  notably  polyga- 
mous. 

45.    FAMILY  FRING1I_1_ID>E.      FINCHES,  SPARROWS,    ETC. 

This  is  a  very  numerous  family  of  small  birds,  containing  many  of  our  most 
familiar  species. 

The  most  distinguishing  feature  of  the  birds  of  this  group  is  the  conical  bill.  It 
is  stout  at  the  base  and  pointed  at  the  tip,  and  with  the  corners  of  the  mouth  drawn 
sharply  downward. 


Plate  17 


BOAT-TAILED    CRACKLE.     Megaquiscalus  major  major   (Vieill.)     Male  and  Female. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  227 


KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Mandibles  falcate,  crossed  at  tip.     Loxia. 

1.  Mandibles  not  falcate,  not  crossed  at  tip.     See  2. 

2.  Head  crested,  bill  very  large.     Cardinalis. 

2.  Head  not  crested;  bill  various.     See  3. 

3.  Bill  very  large.     See  4. 

3.  Bill  moderate.     See  5. 

4.  Color  blue  or  brownish,  unstreaked.     Guiraca. 

4.  Color  black,  varied  with  white  and  red,  or  olive-brown  with  whitish  stripes  on  head.    Zame- 

lodia. 

5.  Gonys  distinctly  convex  in  profile,  plumage  streaked  above,  not  below,  no  blue  nor  yellow. 

Passer. 

5.  Gonys  straight  or  nearly  so.     See  6. 

6.  Primaries  much  longer  than  secondaries.     See  7. 

6.  Primaries  not  much  longer  than  secondaries.     See  13. 

7.  Wing  at  least  five  times  as  long  as  the  short  tarsus.    See  8. 

7.  Wing  not  five  times  as  long  as  tarsus.     See  11. 

8.  Wing  more  than  3 1/2  inches,  tail  largely  white.     Plectrophenax. 

8.  Wing  less  than  3^  inches.     See  9. 

9.  Tail  %  as  long  as  wing,  nasal  tufts  conspicuous.     Acanthis. 

9.  Nasal  tufts  inconspicuous;  tail  less  than  two-thirds  wing.     See  10. 

10.  Tail-feathers  blotched  with  white.     Astragalinus. 

10.  Tail-feathers  blotched  with  yellow  at  base.     Spinus. 

11.  Tail  without  white.     Carpodacus. 

11.  Tail  blotched  with  white.     See  12. 

12.  Middle  tail-feathers  narrow  and  pointed,  hind  claw  long  and  straight.     Calcarius. 

12.  Middle  tail-feathers  broad  and  rounded,  hind  claw  short  and  curved.     Chondestes. 

13.  Tail-feathers,  at  least  the  outer  ones,  blotched  with  white.     See  14. 

13.  Tail-feathers  not  blotched  with  white.     See  16. 

14.  Breast  streaked.     Pocecetes. 

14.  Breast  dark,  not  streaked.     See  15. 

15.  Length  7  or  more,  wings  with  white  blotch.    Pipilo. 

15.  Length  6.25  or  less,  wings  without  white.     Junco. 

16.  Tail-feathers  narrow,  at  least  the  middle  ones  acuminate,  back  streaked.     See  17. 

16.  Tail-feathers  broader,  not  acuminate.     See  20. 

17.  Breast  with  yellow,  throat  with  more  or  less  black.     Spiza. 

17.  Breast  without  yellow,  throat  without  black.     See  18. 

18.  Outer  pair  of  tail-feathers  longer  than  middle  pair,  wing  much  longer  than  tail.     Passer- 

culus. 

18.  Outer  pair  of  tail-feathers  shorter  than  middle  pair,  wing  not  much,  if  any,  longer  than 

tail.     See  19. 

19.  Tail  double  rounded,  the  middle  pair  of  quills  much  shorter  than  the  next  pair.     Ammo- 

dramus. 

19.  Tail  graduated,  the  middle  tail-feathers  the  longest.     Passerherbulus. 

20.  Hind  claw  decidedly  longer  than  its  toe;  plumage  streaked  above  and  below.    Passerella, 

20.  Hind  claw  scarcely  longer  than  its  toe.     See  21. 

21.  Plumage  more  or  less  blue  in  male,  lower  mandible  much  deeper  than  upper.    Passerina. 

21.  Plumage  streaked,  no  blue,  lower  mandible  not  deeper  than  upper.     See  22. 

22.  Tail  more  or  less  forked,  the  middle  feathers  the  shortest,  plumage  unstreaked  below,  no 

yellow.     Spizella. 

22.  Tail  rounded.     See  23. 

23.  Primaries  exceeding  secondaries  by  more  than  length  of  bill,  head  striped  in  adult.    Zono- 

trichia. 

23.  Primaries  exceeding  secondaries  by  not  more  than  length  of  bill.     See  24. 

24.  Edge  of  wing  yellow,  plumage  unstreaked  below.     Peuccea. 

24.  No  yellow  anywhere,  plumage  streaked  below,  or  else  crown  chestnut.     Melospiza. 

Genus  Carpodacus  (Kaup) 
213.  Carpodacus  purpureus  purpureus  (Gmel).    PURPLE  FINCH. 

Description. — Ad.  &. — Body  streaked,  suffused  with  rose-red,  strongest  on  the  head,  rump, 
and  breast,  more  brownish  on  the  back;  whiter,  generally  white,  on  the  belly;  wings  and  tail 
brownish  fuscous,  the  outer  webs  of  the  feathers  finely  edged  with  rose-red;  a  small  tuft  of  bristly 
feathers  over  the  nostrils;  outer  tail-feathers  longest.  This  plumage  is  acquired  at  the  first  post- 


228  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


nuptial  molt.  Ad.  9  .—Very  different,  sparrowlike  in  appearance;  upperparts  dark  grayish 
brown,  finely  streaked  with  black;  wings  and  tail  dark  grayish  brown;  underparts  white,  streaked, 
or  with  wedge-shaped  spots  of  fuscous.  A  whitish  superciliary  line.  Im.  &. — -Similar  to  adult 
female.  L.,  6.22;  W.,  3.24;  T.,  2.29;  B.,  .45. 

Remarks. — Females  and  young  males  bear  a  decided  resemblance  to  some  sparrows,  but  the 
rounded  bill,  tufts  of  feathers  over  the  nostrils,  and  forked  tail  are  distinguishing  characters. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range  in  United  States. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  northern  United  States 
northward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter,  but  may  possibly  breed  in  the  mountains. 


FIG.  178.     PURPLE  FINCH. 

The  Purple  Finch,  so  called  from  the  erroneous  coloring  given  it  in  an  early 
plate  of  the  species,  is  an  irregular  winter  visitor  in  the  central  portion  of  the 
State.  Cairns  recorded  it  as  a  spring  transient  in  Buncombe  County,  giving  the 
following  dates  of  its  appearance:  February  7,  March  5  to  May  5.  Mrs.  Donald 
Wilson  reports  it  as  a  winter  resident  at  Andrews,  in  Cherokee  County,  much  far- 
ther south,  giving  for  it  the  extreme  dates  of  November  18  to  April  28.  In  central 
North  Carolina  it  occurs  more  or  less  regularly  from  the  last  week  of  October  to 
the  middle  of  April,  and  sometimes  a  little  later,  the  latest  spring  date  being  April 
30  and  the  earliest  fall  date  October  27.  Still  later  dates  than  any  of  the  above  are 
May  9,  1908,  at  Highlands,  a  small  flock  observed  by  Sherman  and  C.  S.  Brimley, 
and  May  23, 1885,  at  Old  Fort,  a  number  observed  by  Brewster,  who  says  they  were 
apparently  not  breeding,  despite  the  lateness  of  the  season. 

The  Purple  Finch  is  most  commonly  found  in  small  flocks,  feeding  either  on 
buds  or  seeds  of  trees;  sometimes  it  may  be  seen  eating  weed-seeds  in  open  thickets 
or  on  the  ground.  It  is  particularly  partial  to  the  seeds  of  the  tulip  tree,  and  also 
enjoys  the  seeds  and  buds  of  elms. 

The  nest  is  said  to  be  built  in  small  trees  at  no  great  height  from  the  ground, 
and  is  composed  of  weed  stems,  grasses,  and  similar  materials,  lined  with  hair, 
being  not  unlike  that  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow  in  its  construction. 

Genus  Loxia  (Linn) 

This  is  a  small  genus  of  finches  distinguished  by  the  two  mandibles  being  curved, 
and  crossed  at  the  tips.  Two  species  occur,  but  not  commonly  with  us. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  229 


KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Wings  without  white  bars.     Crossbill. 

1.  W'ngs    with    two    white    bars.     White-winged    Crossbill. 

214.  Loxia  curvirostra  minor  (Brehm).    CROSSBILL. 

Description. — Male  brick  red,  female  brownish,  washed  with  greenish  yellow.  No  white 
wing-bars  in  either  sex.  Tips  of  mandibles  crossed.  Extreme  measurements  of  5  Raleigh  speci- 
mens: L.,  6.00-6.50;  W.,  3.40-3.70;  T.,  2.00-2.20. 

Range  in  America. — North  America,  chiefly  far  northward,  breeding  sporadically  to  Virginia 
on  the  coast,  and  to  northern  Georgia  in  the  mountains. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Resident  on  some  of  the  higher  mountains;  a  winter  visitor  in  the 
central  portion  of  the  State. 


FIG.  179.     CROSSBILL. 

The  Crossbill  has  been  taken  at  Raleigh  January  16  and  26,  and  February  8, 1897; 
March  11  and  23,  1885;  May  9,  1907;  and  June  5,  1887.  In  Buncombe  County 
Cairns  recorded  it  as  a  resident,  breeding  on  the  Black  Mountains;  and  Rhoads 
heard  it  on  Roan  Mountain  in  late  June,  1895. 

The  nesting  period  is  said  to  be  in  winter  or  very  early  spring,  while  the  snow 
is  still  on  the  ground.  The  nest  is  usually  found  in  a  coniferous  tree.  The  eggs 
are  pale  greenish,  spotted  and  dotted  about  the  larger  end  with  various  shades  of 
lavender  and  brown.  Size  .75  x  .57. 

The  birds  travel  in  small  flocks  and  feed  on  various  seeds,  the  peculiarly  shaped 
bills  being  well  adapted  for  the  purpose  of  tearing  pine-cones  asunder. 

215.  Loxia  leucoptera  (Gmel.}.     WHITE-WINGED  CROSSBILL. 

Description. — Male  rose-red;  female  brownish  olive,  wings  with  two  white  wing-bars;  mandibles 
crossed  at  tips.  L.,  6.25;  W.,  3.50;  T.,  2.65. 

Range. — Northern  North  America,  breeding  from  northern  New  England  northward.  South 
in  winter  to  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -So  far,  only  taken  at  Raleigh  in  winter. 

Three  specimens  of  the  White-winged  Crossbill  were  killed  by  Bruner,  February 
23,  1907,  while  they  were  feeding  on  cedar-berries  near  the  Agricultural  and 
Engineering  College  at  Raleigh.  Bruner  had  no  gun  with  him,  but  in  his  scientific 
longing  to  discover  the  identity  of  these  queer-looking  birds,  he  picked  up  three 


230  BIKDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


stones  and  threw  them  in  quick  succession  at  the  flock.  Strange  to  say,  he  killed 
a  bird  with  each  stone,  and  all  three  specimens  are  now  in  the  possession  of  the 
State  Museum,  two  being  preserved  as  mounted  specimens  and  one  as  a  skin.  We 
have  no  other  record  of  the  appearance  of  the  White-winged  Crossbill  in  North 
Carolina. 

Its  habits  are  said  to  be  similar  to  those  of  the  more  common  species.  Both  are 
rather  erratic  wanderers. 

Genus  Acanthis  (Borkh.) 

216.  Acanthis  linaria  linaria  (Linn.}.    REDPOLL. 

Description.— Adult  male  with  throat,  breast,  rump,  and  crown  red,  otherwise  streaky  above, 
lower  parts  whitish;  adult  female  has  crown  red,  but  lacks  the  red  on  other  parts.  Young  are 
without  red.  L.,  5.75;  W.,  3.00;  T.,  2.50. 

Range. — Northern  America,  south  in  winter  to  Indiana  and  Pennsylvania,  in  flocks. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Known  only  by  a  single  specimen  taken  on  Pea  Island. 


PIG.  180.     REDPOLL. 

The  Redpoll  or  Redpoll  Linnet  has  been  recorded  by  Bishop,  from  Pea  Island, 
under  date  of  December  10,  1908,  and  by  Ludlow  Griscom,  from  Currituck  Sound, 
as  follows:  "Two  birds,  December  31,  1916,  feeding  in  the  bushes  on  beach 
opposite  Pamunky  Island,  in  company  with  Savannah  and  Ipswich  Sparrows,  so 
tame  that  we  could  walk  up  within  six  feet  of  them.  Tried  to  collect  them  with  a 
fence  rail,  but  unsuccessfully.  One  seen  same  place  next  day.  Seen  by  J.  M. 
Johnson,  J.  T.  Nicholls  and  L.  G." 

Genus  Astragalinus  (Cab.) 
217.  Astragalinus  tristis  tristis  (Linn.}.    GOLDFINCH. 

Description:  Ad.  c?  in  summer. — Bright  canary-yellow;  crown,  wings  and  tail  black;  wing-bars 
and  inner  vanes  of  tail-feathers  white;  longer  upper  tail-coverts  gray;  lesser  wing-coverts  yellow. 
This  plumage  is  acquired  at  the  second  prenuptial  molt.  Ad.  <?  in  winter^. — Wings  and  tail  as  in 
summer,  but  white  edgings  wider,  lesser  wing-coverts  still  yellow;  back  grayish  brown,  olive-tinged; 
throat  and  che!st  dull  yellow,  belly  whitish,  sides  brownish  buff.  Im.  d1  in  winter. — -Similar  to 
ad.  d1  in  winter,  but  lesser  wing-coverts  olive-green  or  olive-gray.  Im.  d  in  summer. — Similar 
to  ad.  cf  in  summer,  but  lesser  wing-coverts  as  in  winter.  Ad.  9  in  summer. — No  black  crown- 
cap;  upperparts  yellowish  brown;  below  dull  yellow;  wings  and  tail  less  black  than  in  ad.  d", 
lesser  wing-coverts  olive-green.  Ad.  9  and  Im.  9  in  winter. — Similar  to  im.  d  in  winter,  but 
wings  and  tail  less  black.  L.,  5.10;  W.,  2.82;  T.,  1.95;  B.,  .40.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Resident  throughout  the  whole  of  temperate  North  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Resident,  except  in  the  east,  where  it  is  only  a  winter  visitor. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  231 


The  Goldfinch,  also  known  as  Wild  Canary,  Lettuce-Bird,  and  Thistle-Bird,  is 
a  common  resident  throughout  the  State,  except  in  the  eastern  portion,  where  it 
appears  to  be  only  a  winter  visitor,  arriving  there  in  October  and  leaving  in  May. 
In  central  North  Carolina  it  is  much  more  abundant  in  winter  than  in  summer. 

Its  nesting  season  is  in  July  and  August,  which  is  much  later  than  most  other 
small  birds  breed.  The  nest  is  a  beautiful,  compact  structure  composed  of  vegetable 
fibers,  moss,  grasses,  leaves,  and  fine  strips  of  bark  felted  together  and  lined  inside 
with  plant  down.  The  eggs  vary  from  four  to  six  in  number.  They  are  pale  bluish 
or  greenish  white,  and  are  unspotted.  Size  .65  x  .52.  The  nest  is  usually  placed 
in  a  small  tree,  and  the  height  varies  from  three  to  forty  feet  from  the  ground.  At 
Raleigh  it  is  a  common  summer  bird  within  the  city  limits. 


FIG.  181.     GOLDFINCH. 

The  Goldfinch  is  a  confirmed  eater  of  many  kinds  of  small  seeds,  including  those 
of  the  thistle,  sunflower,  turnip,  trumpet-vine,  chickweed,  zinnia,  lettuce,  and  dan- 
delion. 

Genus  Spinus  (Koch) 

218.  Spinus  pinus  pinus  (Wils.).    PINE  SISKIN. 

Description. — Plumage  streaked  with  brown,  suffused  with  yellow  in  the  breeding  season. 
Bases  of  wing  and  tail-quills  yellow.  Measurements  of  21  Raleigh  and  1  Weaverville  specimens: 
L.,  4.60-5.12;  W.,  2.75-3.06;  T.,  1.60-1.95. 

Range. — Northern  North  America,  breeding  northward,  and  in  the  mountains;  south  in  winter, 
occasionally  to  the  Southern  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Irregular  winter  visitor  in  most  parts  of  State,  breeding  on  a  few 
of  the  highest  mountains. 

The  Pine  Siskin  occurs  irregularly  throughout  the  State  in  winter.  At  Raleigh 
it  was  more  or  less  common  each  winter  from  1884  to  1890,  was  there  again  in 
1896-7,  and  also  from  1906  to  1909,  but  was  not  observed  during  the  intervening 
winters.  In  the  spring  of  1911,  it  was  abundant  at  Raleigh  and  Chapel  Hill,  and 
was  noted  as  late  as  May  11  at  the  former  and  May  6  at  the  latter  place.  It  has 
been  recorded  at  Pea  Island  (large  flock  seen  by  Bishop,  December  14,  1908) ;  at 
Roan  Mountain  (noted  by  Rhoads  up  to  3,500  feet  in  late  June,  1885) ;  and  in  Bun- 


232  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


combe  County  (where  Cairns  found  it  a  common  winter  visitor,  and  also  observed 
it  nesting  on  Black  Mountain). 

In  winter  Pine  Siskins  go  in  flocks,  feeding  on  various  seeds  and  berries,  includ- 
ing those  of  the  alder,  pine,  cedar,  and  trumpet-vine.  At  Raleigh  C.  S.  Brimley 
has  found  them  most  frequently  eating  alder  seeds. 


PIG.   182.     PINE  SISKIX. 

The  nest  is  said  to  be  built  in  a  coniferous  tree  as  a  rule,  at  a  height  of  about 
twenty-five  feet  from  the  ground.  It  is  made  of  dry  grasses  and  pine  needles  with 
a  lining  of  feathers,  fine  rootlets,  or  hair.  The  eggs  are  greenish  white  or  pale 
greenish  blue  in  ground-color,  spotted  with  various  shades  of  brown,  but  usually 
quite  faintly  marked.  Average  size  .63  x  .50.  The  usual  complement  of  eggs  is 
three  or  four. 

Ludlow  Griscom  writes:  " Don't  know  how  often  Siskins  reach  North  Carolina, 
but  saw  eighteen  on  January  1,  1917;  flock  of  ten  near  Currituck  Court  House, 
and  a  flock  of  five  and  three  singles  flying  south  over  the  beach  earlier  in  the  day." 

Genus  Passer  (Briss.) 
219.  Passer  domesticus  domesticus  (Linn.).    ENGLISH  SPARROW. 

Description:  Ad.  male. — Crown  gray,  bordered  from  the  eye  backward  and  on  the  nape  by 
chestnut;  lesser  wing-coverts  chestnut,  middle  coverts  tipped  with  white;  back  streaked  with 
black  and  chestnut;  rump  ashy;  middle  of  the  throat  and  breast  black;  sides  of  the  throat  white; 
belly  whitish.  Ad.  female. — Head  and  rump  grayish  brown;  back  streaked  with  black  and  deep 
ochraceous-buff ;  underparts  dirty  whitish,  the  breast  and  sides  washed  with  pale  grayish  brown. 
L.,  6.33;  W.,  3.01;  T.,  2.30;  B.,  .48.  (Chap.,  Birds  o/E.  N.  A.) 

Range  in  United  States. — Nearly  all  inhabited  districts. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Virtually  the  whole  State,  especially  in  towns  and  villages. 

The  English  Sparrow,  more  correctly  named  the  European  House  Sparrow,  is 
an  abundant  bird  in  the  more  thickly  settled  parts  of  the  State,  and,  so  far  as  we 
are  aware,  first  appeared  at  Raleigh  about  1879,  since  which  time  it  has  steadily 
increased  both  in  numbers  and  extent  of  territory  occupied.  At  present,  so  far  as 
we  know,  Highlands,  Macon  County,  is  the  only  town  of  any  size  where  it  does 
not  now  occur.  At  Blowing  Rock  in  Watauga  County,  another  mountain  town,  it 
did  not  appear  until  1907.  However,  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  will  shortly  reach 
the  few  settled  localities  where  it  has  not  yet  established  itself. 

Although  universally  considered  to  be  a  nuisance,  this  bird  has  some  redeeming 
qualities.  It  will  devour  cabbage-worms  to  a  considerable  extent,  and  has  also 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  233 


been  credited  in  this  State  with  destroying  the  harlequin  cabbage-bug.  The  nest, 
which  is  built  among  the  branches  of  trees  or  placed  in  any  convenient  hole  or 
crevice  about  a  building,  is  a  large,  untidy  structure  of  grass,  weed  stems,  or  other 
available  material,  and  is  well  lined  with  feathers.  Two  or  three  broods  are  raised 
in  a  season.  The  eggs  number  from  four  to  six  and  are  usually  more  or  less  spotted. 
The  laws  of  the  State  do  not  protect  this  bird,  and  it  is  almost  universally  re- 
garded as  a  nuisance,  as  it  drives  our  native  birds  out  of  the  towns  into  the  coun- 
try, where  they  more  readily  fall  a  prey  to  their  natural  enemies. 

Genus  Plectrophenax  (Stejn.) 
220.  Plectrophenax  nivalis  nivalis  (Linn.).    SNOW  BUNTING. 

Description:  Ad.  male  in  summer. — Whole  head  and  neck,  rump,  and  underparts  white;  back 
and  scapulars  black;  outer  primaries  black,  white  basally,  secondaries  wholly  white;  outer  tail- 
feathers  white;  inner  ones  black.  Ad.  female  in  summer.- — Similar,  but  upperparts  streaked  with 
black;  outer  primaries  all  fuscous;  secondaries  more  or  less  tipped  with  fuscous.  Male  in  winter. — 
Upperparts  a  kind  of  rusty  brown,  almost  umber  on  the  center  of  the  crown;  back  streaked  with 
black,  caused  by  the  black  bases  of  the  feathers  showing  through  their  rusty  tips;  wings  and  tail 
much  as  in  summer,  but  more  or  less  edged  with  rusty;  underparts  white,  the  breast  and  sides 
washed  with  rusty.  Female  in  winter. — Similar  to  male,  but  wings  as  in  summer.  L.,  6.88;  W., 
4.07;  T.,  2.70;  B.,  .42.  (Chap.,  Birds  ofE.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Circumpolar  regions,  south  in  winter  regularly  to  northern  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Occasional  winter  straggler. 


FIG.  183.     SNOW  BUNTING. 

The  Snowflake  or  Snow  Bunting  is  a  bird  of  the  far  North,  visiting  the  Northern 
States  in  large  flocks  in  winter.  In  North  Carolina  it  has  been  recorded  only  twice. 
Bishop  took  three  specimens  at  Pea  Island,  Dare  County,  on  February  14,  1901, 
and  Mr.  Bainbridge  Wilson,  Route  No.  3,  Vienna,  Va.,  took  a  specimen  at 
Oriental,  N.  C.,  on  January  26,  1918.  (Reported  to  Pearson  by  Dr.  Charles  W. 
Richmond,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  under  date  of  September  27,  1918.) 

Genus  Calcarius  (Bechst.) 
221.  Calcarius  lapponicus  lapponicus  (Linn.).    LAPLAND  LONGSPUR. 

Description. — Hind  toe-nail  as  long  as  or  longer  than  toe.  Ad.  male  in  summer. — Head,  neck, 
throat,  and  breast  black;  a  buffy  line  behind  the  eye;  nape  rufous;  back  streaked  with  black  and 


234  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


ochraceous-  and  cream-buff;  tail  fuscous,  the  two  outer  feathers  with  more  or  less  white;  belly 
white;  sides  streaked  with  black.  Ad.  female  in  summer. — Upparparts  streaked  with  black, 
rufous,  ochraceous-  and  cream-buff;  nape  ochraceous-buff,  the  color  sometimes  concealed  by 
the  tips  of  the  feathers;  tail  fuscous,  the  outer  one  or  two  feathers  marked  with  white;  underparts 
white,  the_breast  and  sides  streaked  with  black  and  ochraceous-buff.  Male  in  winter. — 'Similar 
to  female  in  summer,  but  upperparts  blacker,  nape  more  rufous,  breast  more  heavily  marked 
with  black,  most  of  the  feathers  black  at  the  base.  Female  in  winter. — 'Similar  to  female  in  summer, 
but  upperparts  duller,  nape  with  little  or  no  ochraceous.  L.,  6.25;  W«,  3.75;  T.,  2.55;  B.,  .40. 

Remarks. — In  some  plumages  this  bird  bears  a  general  resemblance  to  certain  sparrows,  but 
differs  from  them  in  having  the  hind  toe-nail  as  long  as  or  longer  than  the  toe.  (Chap..  Birds  of 
E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Circumpolar  regions,  south  in  winter  over  most  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  taken  at  Raleigh. 

The  Lapland  Longspur,  also  known  as  the  Lapland  Bunting,  has  been  taken  at 
Raleigh  on  January  13  and  14,  1893  (one  each  day),  and  on  February  20,  1895 
(four  secured).  All  the  specimens  were  in  company  with  flocks  of  Horned  Larks, 
and  all  were  secured  in  the  same  field. 

Like  the  preceding  species,  the  Longspur  usually  congregates  in  large  flocks.  It 
ranges  much  farther  south  in  the  flat  country  west  of  the  Mississippi  than  it  does 
on  the  Atlantic  Slope. 

Genus  Pocecetes  (Baird) 

222.  Pocecetes  gramineus  gramineus  (GmeL).    VESPER  SPARROW. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  brownish  gray,  streaked  with  black  and  a  little  ochraceous- 
buff;  wings  fuscous,  greater  and  middle  coverts  tipped  with  white,  lesser  coverts  bright  rufous; 
tail  fuscous,  the  outer  feather  mostly  white,  the  next  one  much  less  white;  underparts  white;  the 
breast  and  sides  streaked  with  black  and  ochraceous-buff.  L.,  6.12;  W.,  3.06;  T.,  2.38;  B.,  .41. 

Remarks. — The  white  tail-feathers  and  rufous  lesser  wing-coverts  will  always  distinguish  this 
species  from  any  other  of  our  sparrows.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  breeding  mainly  north  of  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Winter  visitor  in  the  central  and  eastern  sections;  resident  in  at 
least  portions  of  the  mountain  region. 


FIG.  184.     VESPER  SPARROW. 


The  Vesper  Sparrow,  also  known  as  the  Bay-winged^Bunting  and  Grass  Finch, 
is  a  common  winter  visitor  in  open  fields  in  most  parts  of  the  State.  Cairns  called 
it  a  resident  in  Buncombe  County,  and  further  stated  that  it  is  usually  found  on 
high  pasture  land,  where  it  commences  to  breed  in  April.  Armfield  took  a  set  of 
its  eggs  near  Greensboro  on  June  1,  1893.  Sherman  and  C.  S.  Brimley  found  it 
apparently  settled  down  to  breed  at  Blantyre,  Transylvania  County,  in  early  May, 
1908,  and  Bruner  reported  it  as  fairly  common  at  Blowing  Rock  in  the  summers  of 
1905  and  1907. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  235 


In  eastern  North  Carolina  the  Vesper  Sparrow  arrives  near  the  middle  of  Octo- 
ber and  leaves  about  April  15,  though  it  has  been  once  observed  as  late  as  May  11 
at  Raleigh. 

The  nest  is  built  on  the  ground  at  the  foot  of  a  small  bush  or  weed,  and  is  com- 
posed of  grass  with  a  lining  of  hair.  The  eggs  are  commonly  four  in  number,  of  a 
pale  pinkish-,  greenish-,  or  grayish-white  ground-color,  marked  with  blotches,  dots, 
and  lines  of  various  shades  of  rusty  brown.  Size  .80  x  .60. 

On  the  wing  this  bird  is  easily  distinguished  from  other  small  sparrows  by  the 
white  outer  tail-feathers,  which  ordinarily  are  plainly  evident  when  the  bird  is  in 
flight. 

Genus  Passerculus 

A  genus  of  small  ground-sparrows,  with  the  tail-feathers  neither  stiff,  nor  marked 
with  white.  Three  forms  have  been  recorded  from  the  State. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Superciliary  stripe  white  in  front;  wing  usually  over  2H  inches.    Ipswich  Sparrow. 

1.  Superciliary  stripe  yellow  in  front;  wing  usually  under  1V%  inches.     See  2. 

2.  Bill  stout,  averaging  .24  deep  at  base.    Savannah  Sparrow. 

2.  Bill  less  stout,  averaging  .21  deep  at  base.     Western  Savannah  Sparrow. 

223.  Passerculus  princeps  (Mayn.).    IPSWICH  SPARROW. 

^Description:  Ads. — Usually  with  a  spot  of  sulphur-yellow  before  the  eye  and  on  the  bend  of  the 
wing;  upper-parts  pale  brownish-ashy,  streaked  on  the  head,  back,  and  upper  tail-coverts  with 
black  and  cinnamon-brown;  the  nape  and  rump  with  few  or  no  streaks;  a  white  line  over  the  eye; 
wings  grayish  brown,  outer  webs  of  greater  coverts  and  tertials  margined  with  pale  ochraceous- 
buff;  tail  grayish  brown,  the  outer  webs  of  the  feathers  margined  with  brownish-ashy;  under  parts 
white;  breast  and  sides  lightly  streaked  with  blackish  and  ochraceous-buff.  L.,  6.25;  W.,  3.00; 
T.,  2.25;  B.,  .40.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Atlantic  coast  of  United  States,  breeding  on  Sable  Island;  south  in  winter  as  far  as 
North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — At  present  only  recorded  from  Pea  and  Bodie  islands,  and  from 
Currituck  County. 

The  Ipswich  Sparrow  is  a  rather  large,  pale-colored  sparrow,  occurring  along  the 
Atlantic  coast,  and  in  this  State  is  known  as  a  winter  visitor  on  Pea  and  Bodie 
islands,  where  Bishop  found  it  to  be  common  in  February,  1901.  It  has  also  been 
noted  on  January  2,  1915,  in  Currituck  County.  (Bird-Lore,  1915,  p.  36.) 

224.  Passerculus  sandwichensis  savanna  (Wits.).    SAVANNAH  SPARROW. 

Description:  Ads. — A  pale  yellow  mark  over  or  before  the  eye  and  on  the  bend  of  the  wing; 
general  tone  of  the  upperparts  brownish  black,  the  centers  of  the  feathers  black,  margined  first 
by  rufous  or  ochraceous-buff,  then  by  ashy;  wings  fuscous,  the  outer  webs  of  the  feathers  margined 
with  ochraceous-buff;  tail  fuscous,  the  outer  web  of  the  feathers  margined  with  whitish;  under- 
parts  white,  heavily  streaked  with  blackish  and  rufous,  the  breast-feathers  tipped  with  wedge- 
shaped  marks.  Ads.  and  Im.  in  winter. — Similar,  but  color  dseper,  more  suffused  with  ochraceous. 
L.,  5.68;  W.,  2.62;  T.,  2.09;  B.,  .40.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  northern  United  States  northward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Winter  visitor  throughout  the  State,  especially  common  immediately 
along  the  coast. 

The  Savannah  Sparrow  occurs  at  Raleigh  from  October  until  early  May,  being 
found  in  small  numbers  in  almost  any  grassy  situation.  At  Fort  Macon  Coues 


236  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


reported  it  as  very  abundant  everywhere  outside  of  the  marsh  during  the  same 
period  of  the  year.  At  Pea  Island  Bishop  reported  it  the  most  abundant  bird  in 
February,  1901.  At  Weaverville,  in  Buncombe  County,  Cairns  called  it  a  common 
winter  visitor,  and  in  his  migration  schedule  reports  it  from  August  20  to  April  24, 
adding  the  remark  that  it  breeds  on  the  higher  mountains.  The  earliest  fall  record 
for  Raleigh  is  September  16,  1887;  but  this  is  unusually  early,  for  the  time  of 
arrival  is  generally  in  October. 


FIG.  185.     SAVANNAH  SPARROW. 

The  nest  is  said  to  be  sunken  in  the  ground,  and  well  concealed  among  weeds 
and  grass,  being  nothing  more  than  an  arrangement  of  grasses  in  concentric  rings, 
the  rim  being  flush  with  the  ground.  The  eggs  are  four  or  five  in  number.  They 
are  of  a  greenish  or  grayish-white  ground-color,  speckled  and  blotched  with  light 
brown  and  lilac,  particularly  about  the  larger  end,  the  markings  being  often  so 
numerous  that  they  almost  conceal  the  ground-color.  Size  .75  x  .35. 

The  Savannah  Sparrow  is  a  shy  bird,  hiding  close  in  the  grass  until  flushed  by 
a  near  approach.  In  the  spring  it  is  often  found  on  wet  meadows,  but  during  the 
rest  of  the  winter  is  confined  mainly  to  dry  uplands. 

The  Western  Savannah  Sparrow,  Passerculus  sandwichensis  alaudinus  (Bonap.),  is  more  gray 
in  color  than  the  eastern  form.  H.  L.  Coggins  (see  Auk,  Oct.,  1901,  p.  397)  states  that  14  Savan- 
nah Sparrows  collected  by  H.  H.  and  C.  S.  Brimley  at  Raleigh,  and  forming  part  of  the  Hoopes 
collection  in  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  in  Philadelphia,  belong  to  this  form.  He  also 
thinks  that  they  may  be  merely  transients,  as  none  of  the  specimens  were  taken  in  February  or 
March;  but  this  is  a  mistake,  as  Savannah  Sparrows  occur  here  every  month  from  October  to 
May,  both  inclusive.  Possibly,  if  Mr.  Coggins  is  correct,  all  our  Raleigh  specimens  belong  to  this 
form.  Bishop  records  taking  a  young  male  of  this  form  on  Pea  Island,  December  14,  1908.  Ridg- 
way  and  Oberholser,  however,  upon  examining  the  specimen,  both  pronounced  it  the  eastern 
form.  The  1910  edition  of  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union  Check  List  does  not  give  this  bird 
as  ever  having  occurred  east  of  the  Mississippi  River. 

Genus  Ammodramus  (Swains.) 

225.  Ammodramus  savannarum  australis  (Mayn.).  GRASSHOPPER  SPAR- 
ROW. 

Description. — Much  streaked  above;  breast  buffy,  usually,  but  not  always,  unstreaked;  edge 
and  bend  of  wing  and  line  over  eye  yellow.  Measurements  of  40  specimens  from  Raleigh:  L., 
4.90-5.35;  W.,  2.18-2.55;  T.,  1.50-1.95. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  wintering  in  extreme  southern  portion. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Central  and  western  portions  in  summer. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  237 


This  little  sparrow  has  been  recorded  in  North  Carolina  only  from  Raleigh  west- 
ward to  the  mountains,  and  does  not  seem  to  be  common  anywhere.  Being  an 
inhabitant  of  upland  grass-fields,  a  State  so  lacking  in  pastures  as  North  Caro- 
lina furnishes  scant  inducements  for  it  to  remain  long  with  us.  So  far  it  has  been 
found  breeding  only  at  Weaverville,  Buncombe  County  (Cairns);  Blantyre, 
Transylvania  County  (C.  S.  Brimley);  Franklin,  Macon  County  (Brewster,  1885); 
Greensboro  (Armfield);  and  Raleigh  (S.  C.  Bruner).  Sherman  and  C.  S.  Brimley 
observed  it  in  May,  1908,  near  Andrews,  Cherokee  County. 

At  Raleigh  it  occurs  from  April  until  mid-August,  and  H.  H.  and  C.  S.  Brimley 
have  taken  specimens  here  on  March  25  and  October  22  also.  At  Weaverville 
Cairns  recorded  it  as  arriving  on  April  18  for  two  consecutive  years. 


FIG.  186.     GEASSHOPPER  SPARROW. 

The  nest  is  built  on  the  ground,  and  Bruner  describes  two  nests,  which  he  found 
at  Raleigh  in  1908,  and  which  contained  young  birds,  as  being  "  rather  large  inside 
and  quite  flimsily  constructed  of  grass."  One  was  placed  in  a  depression  in  the 
ground  and  the  other  was  tucked  under  the  edge  of  a  clod.  Both  were  in  old  fields. 
The  eggs  are  of  a  clear  white  ground-color,  spotted  more  or  less  thickly  with  pale 
reddish  brown,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end.  Size  about  .75  x  .55. 

The  Grasshopper  Sparrow,  also  known  as  the  Yellow- winged  Sparrow,  is  a  stout, 
plump  little  bird  with  almost  ridiculously  short  wings  and  tail.  Its  song,  from 
which  it  derives  its  name,  is  so  exactly  like  that  of  some  kinds  of  grasshoppers  that 
it  requires  a  practised  ear  to  detect  the  difference. 

Genus  Passerherbulus  (Mayn.) 

This  genus  contains  a  number  of  small  field-  and  marsh-haunting  sparrows,  mostly 
with  more  or  less  stiffened  tail-feathers,  and  with  the  tail  graduated,  the  central 
feathers  longer  than  the  outermost  ones. 

Several  species  occur  in  our  State,  one  of  these  being  represented  by  two  or  three 
subspecies. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Crown  with  a  distinct  median  stripe.     See  2. 

1.  Crown  without  a  distinct  median  light  stripe.     See  3. 

2.  Breast  unstreaked.     Leconte's  Sparrow. 
2.  Breast  streaked.     Henslow's  Sparrow. 


238  BIKDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


3.  No  yellow  spot  before  eye.    See  4. 

3.  A  yellow  spot  before  eye.     See  5. 

4.  Colors  of  upperparts  sharply  contrasted;  chest  usually  deep  buffy,  not  decidedly  streaked. 

Nelson's  Sparrow. 

4.  Colors  of  upperparts  not  sharply  contrasted;  chest  often  nearly  white,  sharply  streaked  with 

blackish.     Sharp-tailed  Sparrow. 

5.  Breast  and  flanks  streaked  with  bluish  gray;  upperparts  greenish  olive,  margined  with  bluish 

gray.     Seaside  Sparrow. 

5.  Breast  and  flanks  streaked  with  dusky.     See  6. 

6.  Upperparts  deep  black  margined  with  olive.     Macgillivray's  Seaside  Sparrow. 
6.  Upperparts  dull  black  margined  with  greenish  olive.     Scott's  Seaside  Sparrow. 

226.  Passerherbulus  henslowi  henslowi  (Aud.).    HENSLOW'S  SPARROW. 

Description:  Ads. — Top  and  sides  of  head  and  nape  dull,  pale  olive-green,  more  buffy  in  the 
fall;  sides  of  crown  black;  nape  finely  streaked  with  black;  back  rufous-brown,  the  feathers  with 
narrow,  central,  wedge-shaped,  black  streaks,  and  narrow  ashy  margins;  bend  of  wing  pale  yellow, 
wing-coverts,  much  like  back;  tail-feathers  very  narrow  and  sharply  pointed,  middle  feathers 
rufous-brown,  the  outer  ones  much  the  shortest;  underparts  white,  more  or  less  washed  with 
buffy  and  streaked  with  black  on  the  breast  and  sides.  Nestlings  have  no  spots  on  the  breast. 
L.,  5.00;  W.,  2.20;  T.,  2.00;  B.,  .42. 

Remarks. — The  peculiar  olivaceous  color  of  the  head  and  nape,  and  the  bright  rufous-brown 
color  of  the  back,  wing-coverts,  and  middle  tail-feathers,  are  the  best  distinguishing  marks  of 
this  species.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  west  to  edge  of  Great  Plains;  winters  in  Gulf  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  known  as  a  spring  migrant  at  Raleigh  and  Weaverville. 


FIG.   187.     HENSLOW'S  SPARROW. 

Henslow's  Sparrow  is""a  bird  of  much  the  same  general  form  as  the  Grasshopper 
Sparrow,  but  of  a  more  buffy  color.  It  has  been  taken  in  this  State  only  at  Weaver- 
ville, in  Buncombe  County,  where  a  single  specimen  was  killed  by  Cairns  April  19, 
1890;  and  at  Raleigh,  from  which  place  it  has  been  recorded  by  H.  H.  and  C.  S. 
Brimley  in  seven  different  years,  the  earliest  being  1893  and  the  latest  1909.  Nine 
specimens  in  all  were  taken  at  various  dates  between  March  18  and  May  3.  These 
were  found  mainly  in  dry  fields,  but  a  few  were  located  along  the  edges  of  marshes. 

227.  Passerherbulus  lecontei  (And.).    LECONTE'S  SPARROW. 

Description:  Ads. — No  yellow  before  the  eye  or  on  the  bend  of  the  wing;  a  broad  ochraceous- 
buff  line  over  the  eye,  and  a  cream-buff  line  through  the  center  of  the  blackish  crown;  nape  rufous- 
brown,  each  feather  with  a  small  black  central  spot  and  an  ashy  border;  back  black,  the  feathers 
margined  first  by  rufous,  then  cream-buff  and  whitish;  tail  grayish  brown,  with  a  slight  rufous 
tinge,  darker  along  the  shaft,  the  feathers  narrow  and  sharply  pointed,  the  outer  ones  much  the 
shortest;  breast  and  sides  tinged  with  buffy,  and  more  or  less  streaked  with  black;  belly  white. 
L.,  5.00;  W.,  2.00;  T.,  2.05;  B.,  .35.  (Chap",  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Great  Plains  and  more  western  prairies,  wintering  on  the  Gulf,  coast,  casually  m 
winter  and  the  migrations  to  the  South  Atlantic  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  known  only  as  a  straggler  at  Raleigh. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


239 


The  only  specimen  of  Leconte's  Sparrow  so  far  recorded  from  North  Carolina 
was  taken  by  C.  S.  Brimley  on  the  edge  of  a  marsh  near  Raleigh,  April  21,  1894. 
It  can  be  expected  to  occur  only  as  an  accidental  migrant  or  a  winter  visitor. 


FIG.  188.     LECONTE'S  SPARROW. 

228.  Passerherbulus  caudacutus  (GmeL).    SHARP-TAILED  SPARROW. 

Description:  Ads. — General  color  of  the  upperparts  a  brownish  olive-green;  crown  olive- 
brown,  with  a  blue-gray  line  through  its  center;  gray  ear-coverts,  inclosed  by  ochraceous-buff 
lines,  one  of  which  passes  over  the  eye  and  one  down  the  side  of  the  throat ;  feathers  of  the  back 
margined  with  grayish  and  sometimes  whitish;  bend  of  the  wing  yellow;  tail-feathers  narrow  and 
isharply  pointed,  the  outer  feathers  much  the  shortest;  breast  and  sides  washed  with  buffy,  paler 
in  summer,  and  distinctly  streaked  with  black;  middle  of  the  throat  and  belly  white  or  whitish. 
"L.,  5.85;  W.,  2.30;  T.,  1.90;  B.,  .50"— (DWIGHT).  (Chap.,  Birds  ofE.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Salt-marshes  of  Atlantic  coast  from  Nova  Scotia  to  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Salt-marshes  of  coast;  so  far,  only  recorded  from  the  Beaufort 
region  and  northward. 


FIG.   189.     SHARP-TAILED  SPARROW. 


The  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow  is  known  in  this  State  as  a  winter  visitor  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Beaufort  and  on  Pea  Island.  Coues  records  it  at  the  former  place 
as  abundant  from  October  until  May,  some  occurring  in  September.  Bishop 
says  it  is  a  rather  common  winter  resident  in  the  marshes  of  Pea  Island,  giving 
the  date  of  May  11  (in  1901)  as  its  latest  spring  appearance.  Smithwick  calls  it 
.a  common  summer  resident  in  the  marshes  of  the  northeastern  section  of  the  State. 

229.  Passerherbulus  nelsoni  nelsoni  (Allen).    NELSON'S  SPARROW. 

Description. — Similar  to  caudacutus,  but  smaller,  the  upperparts  darker,  the  feathers  of  the 
back  more  olive-brown  and  more  broadly  margined  with  whitish;  the  throat,  breast,  and  sides 
•deeper  ochraceous-buff,  very  slightly,  if  at  all,  streaked  with  blackish.  "L.,  5.50;  W.,  2.25;  T., 
1.90;  B.,  .43"— (DWIGHT).  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Mainly  fresh-water  marshes  of  Mississippi  Valley,  east  in  winter  to  Atlantic  coast. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  known  from  Pea  Island. 


240  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Nelson's  Sparrow  is  known  in  this  State  so  far  only  from  Pea  Island,  where 
Bishop  found  it  rather  common  on  February  7-18,  1901,  and  May  10,  1902.  This 
bird  is  found  chiefly  in  the  interior  and  occurs  only  as  a  migrant  on  our  coast, 
where  it  may  be  looked  for  in  company  with  the  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow,  which  it 
closely  resembles. 

230.  Passerherbulus  maritimus  maritimus  (Wils.}.    SEASIDE  SPARROW. 

Description:  Ads. — -A  yellow  line  before  the  eye  and  on  the  bend  of  the  wing;  upperparts 
grayish  olive-green;  tail  grayish  brown,  the  outer  webs  of  the  feathers  margined  with  olive  - 
greenish;  a  dusky  line  from  the  base  of  the  lower  mandible  passes  down  the  sides  of  the  throat; 
breast  more  or  less  suffused  with  buffy  (wanting  in  summer  specimens),  and  indistinctly  streaked 
with  grayish;  throat  and  middle  of  the  belly  white;  sides  grayish.  L.,  6.00;  W.,  2.50;  T.,  2.20; 
B.,  .60.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Salt-marshes  of  Atlantic  coast. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Salt-marshes  of  coast,  apparently  only  a  winter  visitor. 


Fia.   190.     SEASIDE   SPARROW. 

This,  the  typical  or  first-named  subspecies  of  the  Seaside  Sparrows,  is  not  defi- 
nitely known  to  breed  in  North  Carolina,  and  it  is  uncertain  to  which  of  the  three 
geographical  races  found  in  the  State  the  following  records  refer. 

Coues  recorded  the  Seaside  Sparrow  as  abundant  in  the  marshes  near  Beaufort, 
where  it  breeds  abundantly,  retiring  in  April  from  the  interior  of  the  marsh  to 
place  its  nest  among  the  bushes  on  shore.  Pearson  discovered  a  nest  with  four  eggs 
in  Dare  County  (New  Inlet),  on  May  13,  1898,  and  found  the  birds  to  be  plentiful. 
Dr.  Smith  wick  reported  it  from  a  marsh  near  Plymouth,  May  15,  1891,  and  H.  H. 
Brimley  took  specimens  near  Beaufort  in  June,  1896,  and  July,  1894.  Bruner 
collected  breeding  specimens  at  Beaufort  in  the  summer  of  1910. 

In  habits  the  bird  is  shy,  and  it  is  said  to  be  hard  to  flush,  as  is  the  case  with 
nearly  all  of  the  genus:  "They  climb  the  reeds  with  remarkable  ease,  sliding  up 
and  down,  skipping  from  one  to  another,  and  hanging  in  every  attitude  except 
head  downwards;  they  are  doubtless  much  aided  by  the  somewhat  stiffened  tail. 
On  the  ground  they  are  unmistakably  sparrow-like  and  always  proceed  by  hopping; 
the  flight  does  not  differ  noticeably  from  that  of  their  several  near  allies.  It  is 
irregular  and  very  quick  and  they  never  remain  long  on  the  wing."  (Coues,  Natural 
History  of  Fort  Macon,  N.  C.,  No.  1.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  of  Philadelphia,  May  2, 
1871.) 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  241 


231.  Passerherbulus   maritimus   macgillivraii   (Aud.).     MACGILLIVRAY'S 
SEASIDE  SPARROW. 

Description. — Size  and  general  appearance  of  preceding,  differing  in  having  the  feathers  of 
the  back  deep  black,  bordered  by  greenish  olive,  and  margined  with  bluish  gray,  and  in  having 
the  flanks  and  sides  streaked  with  dusky  instead  of  with  bluish  gray. 

Range. — Imperfectly  known,  but  found  in  the  salt-marshes  of  at  least  the  Carolinas  and  Georgia. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Salt-marshes  probably  of  our  whole  coast. 

Macgillivray's  Seaside  Sparrow  is  known  to  be  a  summer  resident  on  Pea  Island, 
where  it  breeds  in  late  May;  Bishop  has  also  taken  a  few  there  in  winter. 

The  eggs  are  said  to  be  usually  four  in  number,  whitish  in  ground-color,  and 
speckled  or  spotted  with  brown. 

232.  Passerherbulus    maritimus    peninsulas    (Allen)      SCOTT'S    SEASIDE 
SPARROW. 

Description. — Differs  from  the  two  preceding  in  having  the  feathers  of  back  dull  black  margined 
with  greenish  olive;  the  flanks  and  breast  are  streaked  with  dusky. 

Range. — Salt-marshes  of  South  Atlantic  States,  breeding  from  Florida  to  the  Carolinas. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — Salt-marshes  near  Beaufort. 

Scott's  Seaside  Sparrow  claims  a  place  in  our  list  on  the  strength  of  a  breeding 
specimen  in  the  United  States  National  Museum,  taken  by  Coues  at  Fort  Macon, 
April  15,  1869,  and  referred  by  Frank  M.  Chapman  to  this  form.  The  different 
forms  are  said  to  be  very  hard  to  distinguish  except  in  the  unworn  winter  plumage. 

(For  further  particulars  about  the  Seaside  Sparrows,  see  Chapman,  The  Sea- 
side Sparrows,  Auk,  Jan.,  1899.) 


FIG.  191.     LARK  SPARROW. 

Genus  Chondestes  (Swains.) 
233.  Chondestes  grammacus  grammacus  (Say).    LARK  SPARROW. 

Description. — Streaky  above,  white  below;  a  black  streak  on  each  side  of  the  white  throat;  a 
black  snot  on  the  breast;  tail-feathers,  except  middle  pair,  broadly  tipped  with  white.  L.,  6.40; 
W.,  3.50;  T.,  2.80. 

Range. — Mississippi  Valley,  casually  to  Atlantic  coast. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  known  from  Raleigh  and  Cranberry. 

16 


242  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Lark  Sparrow  was  taken  at  Raleigh,  August  19,  1889,  on  which  occasion  a 
second  specimen  was  seen  but  not  obtained.  A  nest  which  had  been  deserted  by 
the  birds  was  found  on  July  24,  1890,  and  contained  four  eggs.  C.  S.  Brimley 
recorded  one  on  October  23,  1893.  It  has  also  been  taken  at  Cranberry,  Mitchell 
County,  August  9,  1886,  by  G.  B.  Sennett  (W.  W.  Cooke  in  Bird-Lore,  March- 
April,  1911,  page  86). 

The  Lark  Sparrow  is  preeminently  a  bird  of  the  fields  or  plains,  building  its 
nest  in  a  depression  in  the  ground,  where  it  is  usually  concealed  by  the  surround- 
ing tufts  of  grass.  It  is  constructed  of  grasses  and  weed  stems.  Four  eggs  are 
laid,  more  like  those  of  an  oriole  than  a  typical  sparrow.  They  have  a  pure  white 
ground-color,  speckled  and  marked  with  zigzag,  straight,  and  wavy  lines  of  very 
dark  brown  and  black,  chiefly  near  the  larger  end.  Size  .82  x  .64.  They  are  said 
to  be  laid  from  May  to  July. 

Genus  Zonotrichia  (Swains.) 

Contains  several  species  of  sparrows,  with  the  head  broadly  striped  above,  and 
the  wings  and  tail  about  equal  in  length. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Throat  white,  breast  ash.     Superciliary  line  yellow  in  front.     While-throated  Sparrow. 
1.  Throat  and  breast  same  color,  whitish.     No  yellow.     White-crowned  Sparrow. 


FIG.  192.     WHITE-CROWNED  SPARROW. 

234.  Zonotrichia  leucophrys  leucophrys  (Forst.).  WHITE-CROWNED  SPAR- 
ROW. 

Description:  Ads. — No  yellow  before  the  eye  or  on  the  bend  of  the  wing;  center  of  crown  white, 
bordered  on  either  side  by  black  stripes;  no  white  before  the  eye;  a  white  line  from  over  the  eye 
passes  backward  along  the  side  of  the  head;  nape  gray;  back  dark  grayish  brown,  margined  with 
gray;  rump  dark  brownish  ash;  greater  and  middle  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white;  tail  fuscous; 
underparts  grayish,  white  on  the  belly,  flanks  and  under  tail-coverts  cream-buff.  Im. — -Similar, 
but  much  browner,  sides  of  the  crown  rufous-brown,  center  of  the  crown  pale  grayish  brown; 
nape  brownish  ash;  back  margined  with  the  same  color.  L.,  6.88;  W.,  3.03;  T.,  2.88;  B.,  .43. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Whole  United  States,  except  southeastern  portion,  in  winter;  breeding  mainly  north 
of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  known  only  as  an  accidental  visitor  in  Wake  and  Buncombe 
counties. 


g  s 


re 

3     O 


r    <n 
2     3 


oo 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  243 


Atkinson  records  it  from  Raleigh  on  the  strength  of  a  specimen  in  the  collection 
of  J.  L.  Busbee,  and  Cairns  took  a  young  male  in  Buncombe  County,  October  16, 
1889.  S.  C.  Bruner  took  a  third  specimen  at  Raleigh,  April  14,  1912,  and  on  Octo- 
ber 18,  1913,  he  found  the  species  not  uncommon  at  Stuart,  Va.,  only  six  miles  north 
of  the  North  Carolina  line. 

235.  Zonotrichia  albicollis  (GmeL).     WHITE-THROATED  SPARROW. 

Description. — Superciliary  stripe  yellow  in  front;  edge  of  wing  yellow;  breast  ashy,  throat 
white  or  whitish;  head  striped  black-and-white  in  full  plumaged  adults;  immature  specimens 
with  head  striped  brown-and- whitish,  the  latter  being  the  condition  of  most  of  the  birds  observed 
by  us.  Extreme  measurements  of  26  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  6.25-7.10;  W.,  2.85-3.15;  T.,  2.90-3.15. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  northern  United  States  northward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Whole  State  in  winter. 

This  is  an  abundant  winter  visitor  throughout  the  State,  arriving  from  the  north 
about  the  middle  of  October,  and  leaving  about  May  15.  It  is  common  almost 
anywhere  in  thickets  or  low  scattering  bushes,  in  town  or  country.  In  fall  it  feeds 
largely  on  berries,  such  as  dogwood  in  the  woods  and  frost  grapes  in  the  low- 
grounds.  Weed  seeds  also  constitute  a  considerable  portion  of  its  diet.  Although 
not  essentially  an  insect  eater,  it  nevertheless  destroys  many. 

It  is  in  song  when  it  arrives  in  North  Carolina,  but  is  silent  through  the  colder 
weather,  commencing  again  on  warm  days  in  February  and  singing  fairly  con- 
stantly through  March,  April,  and  May.  The  song  is  plaintive  and  quite  pleasant. 
In  the  White  Mountains  it  is  often  called  "Peabody  Bird,"  and  in  Canada  "Sweet- 
Canada  Bird." 

Genus  Spizella  (Bonap.) 

A  genus  of  small  sparrows;  with  the  tail  slightly  forked  or  notched,  three  species 
of  which  have  been  attributed  to  the  State.  * 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Wings  with  two  conspicuous  white  bands;  a  dusky  spot  on  breast;  length  usually  more  than 
6  inches.     Tree  Sparrow. 

1.  Wings  without  two  conspicuous  white  bands;  no  dusky  spot  on  breast;  length  usually  less 

than  6  inches.     See  2. 

2.  Wings  longer  than  tail;  a  blackish  stripe  through  eye.     Chipping  Sparrow. 

2.  Wings  and  tail  about  same  length;  no  blackish  stripe  through  eye.     Field  Sparrow. 

236.  Spizella  monticola  monticola  (Gmel.}.    TREE  SPARROW. 

Description:  Ads. — No  black  on  the  forehead;  an  indistinct  black  spot  on  the  center  of  the 
breast;  top  of  head  rufous-brown,  sometimes  edged  with  ashy;  a  grayish  line  over  the  eye  and  a 
rufous  brown  line  behind  it;  back  streaked  with  rufous-brown,  black,  and  pale  ochraceous-buff; 
rump  pale  grayish  brown;  greater  and  middle  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white;  outer  web  of  the 
outer  tail-feather  whitish;  breast  grayish  white;  middle  of  the  belly  white;  sides  tinged  with  pale 
grayish  brown;  upper  mandible  black;  lower,  yellow  at  the  base,  the  tip  black.  L.,  6.36;  W., 
2.99;  T.,  2.82;  B.,  .41.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.*) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States  from  Virginia  northward  in  winter;  breeds  in  northern  Canada. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  attributed  only  to  Chapel  Hill  and  Andrews. 

The  Tree  Sparrow  has  been  seldom  recorded  from  North  Carolina,  and  none  are 
known  to  have  been  actually  taken.  Mrs.  Wilson  reports  it  in  winter  at  Andrews 

*The  specimen  identified  by  Atkinson  at  Chapel  Hill  as  a  Clay-colored  Sparrow  (Spizella  pallida)  is  still 
in  existence,  but  is  actually  a  Swamp  Sparrow,  (Melospiza  georgiana). 


244  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLIHA 


in  Cherokee  County.  Collett  reports  finding  it  at  the  same  place  on  March  9,  1902. 
Atkinson,  in  a  list  of  the  birds  of  Chapel  Hill  published  in  the  Raleigh  News  and 
Observer  about  1887,  includes  it  as  a  probable  winter  visitor.  (Pearson,  Jour.  Eli. 
Mitch.  Sci.  Soc.,  Vol.  XVI,  part  1.)  Bruner  found  this  species  common  at  Stuart, 
Va.,  only  six  miles  north  of  the  Stokes  County,  N.  C.,  line  on  Oct.  18,  1913. 

237.  Spizella  passerina  passerina  (Bechst.).    CHIPPING  SPARROW. 

Description:  Ads. — Forehead  black,  a  short  grayish  line  in  its  middle;  top  of  head  rufous; 
the  nape  generally  with  a  few  black  streaks;  a  grayish  line  over  the  eye  and  a  black  line  behind 
it;  back  of  the  neck  grayish,  separating  the  rufous  crown  from  the  back;  back  streaked  with 
black,  a  little  rufous,  and  more  pale  buffy  ochraceous;  rump  slaty  gray;  wing-bars  not  conspicuous; 
underparts  grayish  white,  whiter  on  the  throat  and  belly;  bill  entirely  black.  Ads.  in  winter  and 
Im. — Similar,  but  no  rufous  crown-cap  or  black  on  the  forehead;  top  of  the  head  streaked  like 
the  back;  bill  brownish.  Nestlings  have  the  breast  streaked  with  black.  L.,  5.37;  W.,  2.74; 
T.,  2.29;  B.,  .36. 

Remarks.— In  adults  the  rufous  crown,  black  forehead,  gray  rump,  and  black  bill  are  charac- 
teristic; in  winter  the  gray  rump  is  a  good  distinguishing  mark.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  wintering  mainly  south  of  this  State. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Summer  visitor  in  the  central  and  western  sections,  resident  in 
the  east. 


Fia.   193.     CHIPPING  SPARROW. 

At  Raleigh  this  species  is  one  of  our  most  abundant  birds,  arriving  in  March 
and  not  leaving  until  October  or  November.  C.  S.  Brimley  took  one  at  Raleigh  on 
December  29.  In  the  mountains  it  arrives  about  the  same  time  or  a  little  later. 

It  is  partial  to  pine  woods,  as  well  as  the  neighborhood  of  dwellings.  The  nest 
is  built  on  the  horizontal  limb  of  a  pine,  oak,  or  other  tree,  seldom  less  than  six 
or  seven  feet,  and  often  twenty  or  thirty  feet,  from  the  ground;  the  birds  also  build 
in  woodbines,  climbing  roses,  and  other  convenient  places  in  gardens  or  on  lawns. 
The  nest  is  made  of  grass  and  fine  weed  stems,  and  is  usually  lined  with  horsehair. 
The  eggs  are  generally  four,  of  a  bluish  green  ground-color,  spotted  near  the  larger 
end  with  dark  brown  or  black;  and  they  are  laid  in  May,  June,  or  early  July.  To 
many  persons  this  bird  is  known  as  "Tree  Sparrow"  from  the  situation  of  its  nest. 

On  account  of  its  numbers,  and  its  seeking  the  neighborhood  of  human  habita- 
tions, the  Chipping  Sparrow  is  economically  of  importance,  as  it  is  one  of  the  few 
birds  which  will  seek  its  insect-food  in  our  gardens.  Pearson  once  watched  a  Chip- 
ping Sparrow  capture  thirty-six  insects  in  five  minutes.  The  bird  also  eats  many 
seeds  of  grasses  and  weeds.  Its  singing  continues  from  the  time  it  arrives  till  about 
the  middle  of  summer,  after  which  time  it  is  heard  no  more. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  245 


238.  Spizella  pusilla  pusilla  (Wils.).    FIELD  SPARROW. 

Description. — Paler  and  duller  than  the  Chipping  Sparrow,  with  longer  tail  and  more  buffy 
underparts.  No  dark  streak  through  eye.  Bill  pale.  Extreme  measurements  of  40  Raleigh 
specimens:  L.,  5.25-5.75;  W.,  2.25-2.70;  T.,  2.40-2.70.  Of  these  40  specimens,  10  have  the  wing 
longer  than  tail,  14  the  tail  longer  than  wing,  and  in  one  the  two  measurements  are  the  same. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Resident  the  whole  year  throughout  the  State. 


FIG.  194.     FIELD  SPARROW. 

The  Field  Sparrow  is  another  of  our  most  common  birds.  It  is  found  princi- 
pally in  grass  fields  and  general  open  country.  Like  the  preceding  bird,  it  also 
frequents  the  neighborhood  of  houses,  where  it  feeds  on  the  insects  in  our  gardens, 
and  like  practically  all  our  native  sparrows  is  a  bird  eminently  deserving  of  our 
protection.  In  winter  its  food  seems  to  consist  mainly  of  grass  seeds. 

The  Field  Sparrow  builds  its  nest  in  a  low  bush  or  a  bunch  of  grass  or  weeds, 
sometimes  directly  on  the  ground,  but  more  usually  from  a  few  inches  to  a  foot  or 
two  above.  It  is  made  of  grass  and  weed  stems,  lined  with  fine  grass,  rootlets,  or 
horsehair.  The  eggs  are  four,  laid  in  May,  June,  or  early  July,  and  are  white  in 
color,  thickly  spotted  with  rusty  brown.  Locally  this  bird  is  often  called  "  Ground 
Sparrow"  or  "Bush  Sparrow"  from  the  location  of  its  nest.  The  song-period  is 
about  the  same  as  that  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow. 

Genus  Junco  (Wagler) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Head  darker  than  back.     Slate-colored  Junco. 

1.  Head  uniform  in  color  with  back.     Carolina  Junco. 

239.  Junco  hyemalis  hyemalis  (Linn.}.    SLATE-COLORED  JUNCO. 

Description. — Plumage  slate-gray,  the  head  perceptibly  darker;  the  female  is  strongly  tinged 
with  brownish;  the  underparts  from  the  breast  downward  are  white  centrally.  Outer  tail- 
feathers  white  and  very  noticeable  in  flight.  Extreme  measurements  of  22  Raleigh  specimens: 
L.,  5.75-6.50;  W.,  290-3.25;  T.,  2.50-2.90. 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States;  in  winter,  whole  United 
States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter. 


246 


BIKDS  or  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Slate-colored  Junco,  better  known  as  the  Snowbird  or  Black  Snowbird,  is 
an  abundant  winter  resident  throughout  the  State,  arriving  from  the  north  in  late 
October  or  early  November,  and  leaving  us  again  about  the  middle  of  April  or  a 
little  later. 

It  is  found  in  open  woods,  along  roadsides,  or  in  fields  where  a  few  bushes  afford 
ready  retreat  when  alarmed.  Its  food  consists  mainly  of  weed  and  grass  seeds.  It 
is  easily  distinguished  from  other  sparrows  by  the  dark  head,  neck,  and  breast,  and 
the  white  outer  tail-feathers. 

240.  Junco  hyemalis  carolinensis  (Brewst.).    CAROLINA  JUNCO. 

Description. — Similar  to  preceding,  but  the  head  is  the  same  color  as  back,  and  in  the  few 
specimens  in  our  possession  the  dark  color  of  the  breast  and  sides  encroaches  more  on  the  white 
of  the  belly. 

Range. — Southern  Alleghanies,  wintering  in  the  mountain  valleys. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  mountain  region  in  summer,  everywhere  above  3,700  feet 
elevation.  Winters  in  the  mountain  valleys. 


FIG.   195.     SLATE-COLORED  JUNCO. 


The  Carolina  Snowbird  is  known  as  a  summer  resident  at  Highlands,  Macon 
County;  Blowing  Rock,  Watauga  County;  the  Black  Mountains,  Buncombe 
County;  Wayah  Bald  and  Tuskwitty  Range,  Macon  County;  Big  and  Little  Snow- 
bird Mountains  in  Cherokee  and  Graham  counties;  the  mountains  along  the  State 
line  in  the  two  counties  just  named;  the  high  mountains  in  and  around  Hay  wood 
County,  and  at  Roan  Mountain  and  Cranberry  in  Mitchell  County.  At  Blowing 
Rock  and  Highlands  it  is  a  common  and  characteristic  bird  in  the  streets  and  gar- 
dens. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  247 


The  nests  are  often  placed  in  natural  depressions  in  the  banks  of  roads,  and  are 
constructed  of  rootlets,  sometimes  with  the  addition  of  moss,  and  are  lined  with 
hair,  sometimes  mixed  with  fine  grass.  The  eggs  are  usually  four,  laid  any  time 
from  May  to  July.  They  are  whitish  in  ground-color,  and  more  or  less  speckled 
with  reddish  brown.  Size  .82  x  .60. 

We  have  little  information  as  to  the  time  when  the  Snowbirds  leave  the  higher 
levels  for  the  low  country.  Kopman  was  in  the  mountains  in  1898  as  late  as  Sep- 
tember 28,  and  saw  none  lower  than  Cranberry,  3,200  feet  elevation.  At  Andrews, 
Cherokee  County,  where  those  from  the  neighboring  mountains  might  be  expected 
to  winter,  Collett's  dates  of  arrival  and  departure  show  no  material  difference  from 
Raleigh  records  of  the  Slate-colored  Junco. 

Genus  Peucaea  (Aud.) 
241.  Peucsea  aestivalis  bachmani  (Aud.).    BACHMAN'S  SPARROW. 

Description. — Upperparts  largely  chestnut,  chest  buffy;  underparts  unstreaked;  yellow  on 
edge  of  wing,  but  none  on  head.  Extreme  measurements  of  6  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  5.75—6.15; 
W.,  2.25-2.50;  T.,  2.42-2.50. 

Range. — South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States  and  lower  Mississippi  Valley. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -Whole  State,  east  of  the  mountains. 


FIG.  196.     BACHMAN'S  SPARROW. 

Bachman's  Sparrow,  a  distinctly  southern  species,  is  found  in  summer  irregu- 
larly throughout  practically  all  that  portion  of  the  State  lying  east  of  the  moun- 
tains, and  to  some  extent  at  least  in  the  mountain  valleys. 

At  Raleigh  it  is  quite  rare,  as  also  at  Chapel  Hill,  but  at  Greensboro  and  Guil- 
ford  College  it  is  locally  common.  It  has  been  found  breeding  in  Buncombe 
County  by  Cairns,  and  has  been  taken  or  observed  in  New  Hanover,  Craven,  and 
Macon  counties,  in  the  last  of  which  Brewster  found  it  near  Franklin  in  1885. 
Bruner  and  Feild  observed  it  July  12,  1911,  at  Coot's  Gap,  McDowell  County, 
3,500  feet  elevation.  In  late  June,  1909,  C.  S.  Brimley  found  it  singing  quite 
commonly  in  the  sparse  pine  woods  near  Southern  Pines,  and  Pearson  found  it 
very  common  in  pine  woods  in  August  of  the  same  year  in  Brunswick  County,  it  be- 
ing apparently  the  most  common  species. 


248 


While  not  unlikely  a  permanent  resident  in  the  southeastern  section,  it  is  only 
a  summer  visitor  in  the  other  portions  of  the  State,  arriving  from  the  south  in 
late  March  or  April.  The  latest  records  in  the  autumn  are  September  20  at 
Raleigh,  and  November  1  at  Weaverville. 

This  is  a  shy,  secretive  bird  with  a  loud,  ringing  song,  and  is  usually  found  in 
old,  partly  grown-up  fields  or  in  pastures.  The  nest  is  built  of  grass,  on  the  ground, 
and  is  domed  over,  the  entrance  being  on  one  side.  The  eggs  are  pure  white, 
unmarked. 

Genus  Melospiza  (Baird) 

A  genus  of  small  sparrows  with  rounded  tails  and  short  wings. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Breast  not  streaked.     Swamp  Sparrow. 

1.  Breast  streaked.     See  2. 

2.  Ground  color  of  underparts  white.     Song  Sparrow. 
2.  Broad  band  across  chest,  buff.     Lincoln's  Sparrow. 

242.  Melospiza  melodia  melodia  (Wils.).    SONG  SPARROW. 

Description:  Ads. — Crown  rufous-brown,  with  a  grayish  line  through  its  center;  a  grayish 
line  over  the  eye;  a  rufous-brown  line  from  behind  the  eye  to  the  nape;  feathers  of  the  back  streaked 
with  black  and  margined  with  rufous-brown  and  grayish;  greater  wing-coverts  with  black  spots 
at  their  tips;  no  white  wing-bars  or  yellow  on  the  wing;  tail  rufous  grayish  brown,  the  middle 
feathers  darker  along  their  shafts;  outer  feathers  shortest;  sides  of  the  throat  with  black  or  blackish 
streaks;  breast  with  wedge-shaped  streaks  of  black  and  rufous-brown  which  tend  to  form  one 
larger  blotch  on  the  center;  sides  washed  with  brownish  and  streaked  with  black  and  rufous- 
brown;  middle  of  the  belly  white.  L.,  6.30;  W.,  2. 52;  T.,  2.62;  B.,  .49.  (Chap.,  Birds ofE.N.A.) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  breeding  mainly  north  of  North  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter;  in  summer  breeding  throughout  the  moun- 
tains and  to  some  extent  on  the  coast. 


TIG.  197.     SONG  SPARROW. 


The  Song  Sparrow  is  apparently  only  a  winter  visitor  in  central  and  most  of 
the  eastern  portions  of  North  Carolina,  arriving  from  the  north  about  the  middle 
of  October  and  leaving  early  in  April. 

Although  Cairns  never  detected  it  breeding  during  his  observations  in  Buncombe 
County,  and  Brewster  failed  to  find  it  in  Macon,  Jackson,  Haywood,  and  Bun- 
combe counties  in  1885,  yet  at  the  present  time  it  seems  to  breed  in  many  parts 
of  the  mountain  region.  The  localities  from  which  we  have  summer  records  are 
Highlands  and  Aquone  in  Macon  County,  Blantyre  in  Transylvania  County,  and 
Hendersonville  in  Henderson  County,  at  all  of  which  places  it  has  been  observed 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  249 


in  summer  by  Sherman  or  C.  S.  Brimley.  At  Blowing  Rock  it  was  found  breeding 
by  S.  C.  Bruner  in  1907;  at  Cranberry,  observed  by  P.  Laurent  in  the  summer  of 
1892;  Asheville,  seen  carrying  food  (Pearson),  July  26,  1902;  Montreat,  building 
a  nest,  June  27,  1910  (Pearson);  and  at  Swannanoa,  where  Collett  reports  it  as 
common  in  the  summer  of  1908  along  the  valley  of  the  Swannanoa.  Besides  these 
records,  Sherman  found  the  birds  common  in  late  June,  1909,  at  Patterson,  Cald- 
well  County;  Linville,  Mitchell  County;  and  Blowing  Rock,  Valle  Crucis,  and 
Boone  in  Watauga  County,  while  still  later  observations  show  it  common  in  Hay- 
wood,  Madison,  Cherokee,  Avery,  McDowell,  and  Buncombe  counties,  ranging  from 
1,600  feet  upwards.  These  records  seem  to  show  that  it  is  now  pretty  well  dis- 
tributed through  the  mountains  in  summer,  although  more  common  in  their  north- 
ern half. 

When  these  records  are  considered  in  view  of  the  fact  that  earlier  ornithologists 
failed  to  find  Song  Sparrows  in  the  mountains  in  summer,  they  seem  to  indicate 
that  the  bird  is  rapidly  extending  its  breeding  range  southward  in  the  Alleghany 
Mountains. 

Our  coastal  breeding  records  are  fewer,  but  present  an  even  more  interesting 
phase  of  distribution.  On  Pea  Island  the  birds  have  been  discovered  breeding  by 
Bishop;  at  Ocracoke,  found  very  common  and  singing  by  Pearson  in  July,  1906; 
at  Fort  Macon,  near  Beaufort,  where  Coues  recorded  them  as  resident  in  1870;  and 
from  Ocracoke  to  Cape  Hatteras  found  not  uncommonly  by  Bruner  and  Feild  in 
late  July,  1913. 

It  seems  curious  that  a  bird  should  breed  in  what  are  looked  upon  as  the  hottest 
and  coolest  parts  of  the  State  and  not  in  the  intervening  country;  yet  this  may 
possibly  be  explained  by  the  fact  that  the  humidity  of  portions  of  our  coastal 
region  is  so  great  as  to  reduce  the  mean  temperature.  It  may  be  remarked  in  pass- 
ing that  the  same  peculiar  distribution  occurs  in  the  case  of  a  few  other  birds  and 
of  some  mammals. 

The  nest  of  the  Song  Sparrow  is  made  of  grasses,  weed  stems,  and  leaves,  lined 
with  finer  material  of  the  same  kind  or  with  hair.  It  is  built  on  the  ground  or  in 
a  low  bush.  The  eggs  are  greenish  white,  spotted  with  dark  reddish  brown.  Aver- 
age size  .80  x  .58. 

In  winter  the  Song  Sparrow  chiefly  inhabits  dense  thickets. 

243.  Melospiza  lincolni  lincolni  (And.}.    LINCOLN'S  SPARROW. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  streaked  with  black,  brownish  gray  and  grayish  brown;  tail- 
feathers  narrow  and  rather  pointed,  the  outer  ones  shortest;  underparts  white,  rather  finely 
streaked  with  black,  a  broad  cream-buff  band  across  the  breast,  a  cream-buff  stripe  on  either 
side  of  the  throat;  sides  tinged  with  cream-buff.  L.,  5.75;  W.,  2.50;  T.,  2.40;  B.,  .41. 

Remarks. — The  cream-buff  band  on  the  breast  is  distinctive  of  this  species.  (Chap.,  Birds 
of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  far  northward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  known  as  a  straggler  in  the  mountains. 

We  know  of  only  one  Lincoln's  Sparrow  having  been  recorded  in  North  Caro- 
lina. This  was  a  male,  which  was  taken  by  Cairns  on  the  French  Broad  River  in 
Buncombe  County,  May  6,  1893.  (Fig.  198,  page  250). 


250 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


FIG.  198.     LINCOLN'S  SPARROW. 


244.  Melospiza  georgiana  (Lath.).    SWAMP  SPARROW. 

Description:  Ads.  in  summer. — Crown  chestnut-rufous;  forehead  black;  a  grayish  line  over 
the  eye;  a  blackish  line  behind  the  eye;  nape  slaty  gray  with  a  few  black  streaks;  feathers  of  the 
back  broadly  streaked  with  black  and  margined  with  rufous  and  cream-buff  or  ashy  buff;  wing- 
coverts  rufous,  the  greater  ones  with  black  spots  at  their  tips;  rump  rufous  grayish  brown,  some- 
times streaked  with  black;  tail  rufous  grayish  brown,  the  middle  feathers  darker  along  their 
shafts;  throat  and  middle  of  the  belly  white,  breast  grayish,  sides  washed  with  pale  grayish 
brown.  Ads.  in  winter  and  Im. — -Similar,  but  the  top  of  the  head  streaked  with  black,  rufous- 
brown,  and  grayish;  nape  less  gray;  breast  washed  with  brownish.  L.,  5.89;  W.,  2.34;  T.,  2.32; 
B.,  .46. 

Remarks. — The  underparts  resemble  those  of  some  immature  white-throated  sparrows,  but 
the  wing-bars  and  the  yellow  bend  of  the  wing  will  always  distinguish  the  latter.  (Chap.,  Birds 
of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Central  and  eastern  portions  in  winter,  mountain  region  during 
the  migrations. 


FIG.  199.     SWAMP  SPARROW. 

This  is  a  common  winter  visitor  in  that  part  of  our  State  lying  east  of  the  moun- 
tains, arriving  from  the  north  about  the  middle  of  October;  and  it  has  been  found 
at  Raleigh  as  late  as  May  19,  nearly  a  month  later  than  the  Song  Sparrow  stays. 

In  the  mountains  it  is  recorded  only  from  Weaverville,  Buncombe  'County,  as  a 
spring  transient  in  late  March  and  April,  and  a  fall  transient  in  October  and 
November. 

The  favorite  haunts  of  the  Swamp  Sparrow  are  patches  of  marsh  interspersed 
with  low  bushes,  where  it  may  be  found  hopping  about  on  the  marsh  and  always 
ready  to  dart  for  cover  upon  the  approach  of  danger. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  251 


The  Clay-colored  Sparrow,  Spizella  pallida  (Swains.),  recorded  by  Atkinson  as  being  taken 
at  Chapel  Hill,  March  8,  1886  (Jour.  Eli.  Mitch.  Sci.  Soc.,  1887,  Part  2,  p.  73),  was  later  shown 
by  Pearson  to  be  a  Swamp  Sparrow.  (Auk,  1898,  p.  275.) 

Genus  Passerella  (Swains.) 

245.  Passerella  iliaca  iliaca  (Merrem).    Fox  SPARROW. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  rufous-brown,  the  feathers  margined  by  cinnamon-brown 
and  without  black;  upper  tail-coverts  and  tail  bright  rufous;  wings  margined  with  rufous;  under- 
parts  heavily  streaked  and  spotted  with  rufous-brown  and  blackish;  middle  of  the  belly  white; 
lower  mandible  yellowish.  L.,  7.26;  W.,  3.39;  T.,  2.85;  B.,  .50.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.} 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  breeding  wholly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter. 

The  Fox  Sparrow,  the  largest  and  one  of  the  handsomest  of  our  sparrows,  is  a 
fairly  common  winter  visitor  throughout  the  State,  arriving  about  November  1, 
and  leaving  near  the  middle  of  March.  While  here  it  is  found  mainly  in  lowland 
thickets  and  dense  woods,  where  it  is  usually  associated  with  others  of  its  kind.  It 
is  a  fine  vocalist  and  seems  to  show  a  preference  for  singing  on  damp  or  cloudy 
days.  In  some  seasons  it  appears  to  be  much  more  abundant  than  in  others. 

Genus  Pipilo  (Vieill.) 

246.  Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  erythrophthalmus  (Linn.).    TOWHEE. 

Description:  Ad.  cT. — Upperparts  black,  sometimes  margined  with  rufous;  throat  and  breast 
black,  belly  white,  sides  rufous;  outer  web  of  primaries  with  white;  tail  black,  the  three  outer 
feathers  tipped  with  white;  outer  web  of  the  outer  feather  entirely  white;  iris  red.  Ad.  9  • — 
Upperparts,  wings,  throat,  and  breast  bright  grayish  brown;  tail  fuscous-brown  the  three  outer 
feathers  tipped  with  white;  sides  rufous,  middle  of  the  belly  white.  Nestlings  have  the  back  and 
underparts  streaked  with  black.  L.,  8.35;  W.,  3.34;  T.,  3.68;  B.,  .55.  (Chap.,  Birds  ofE.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter  and  during  the  migrations,  breeding  near 
the  coast  and  in  the  whole  mountain  region. 


FIG.  200.     TOWHEK. 

The  Towhee  or  Che  wink,  most  commonly  known  in  this  State  as  "  Joree,"  "  Jo- 
reeper,"  or  "  Joerigger,"  is  found  throughout  the  mountain  region,  where  it  breeds 
abundantly,  and  also  winters  in  the  valleys.  It  appears  to  be  a  common  winter 
visitor  in  the  rest  of  the  State,  arriving  about  the  first  of  October,  and  leaving  in 
early  May.  While  some  are  found  all  winter,  it  is  nevertheless  a  more  abundant 


252  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


species  during  the  migrations.  This  seems  to  be  the  case  as  far  west  as  Greens- 
boro; still  farther  west,  in  Stokes  and  Rockingham  counties,  it  must  be  a  resident, 
as  the  species  was  observed  commonly  in  this  territory  by  Sherman  in  February 
and  also  in  July.  Near  the  coast  again  it  is  resident,  and  we  have  summer  records 
from  Craven,  Pitt,  Lenoir,  Bladen,  and  Carteret  counties.  Whether  these  eastern 
breeders  show  any  approach  to  the  resident  white-eyed  Towhee  of  Florida,  we  have 
not  had  enough  specimens  to  decide;  but  a  male  taken  at  Lake  Ellis  in  Craven 
County  by  C.  S.  Brimley  on  May  28,  1907,  had  the  iris  yellowish  brown  instead  of 
red;  otherwise  it  was  indistinguishable  from  Raleigh  specimens.  Pearson  found 
a  nest  with  four  newly  hatched  young  in  Brunswick  County,  June  14,  1898. 

The  Towhee  builds  its  nest  on  the  ground  or  in  a  low  bush,  constructing  it  of 
grapevine  bark,  twigs,  weed  stems,  leaves  and  grass,  lined  with  fine  grass  and  root- 
lets. The  eggs  are  three  to  five  in  number,  of  a  whitish  ground-color,  thickly 
speckled  with  light  reddish  brown.  Size  .95  x  .72.  As  to  the  date  at  which  it  nests, 
C.  S.  Brimley  found  a  nest  with  five  eggs  on  Satula  Mountain,  near  Highlands, 
on  May  9,  1908,  at  an  elevation  of  4,000  feet;  and  Cairns  states  that  in  Buncombe 
County  the  Towhees  nest  from  the  middle  of  April  until  June. 

The  Towhee  derives  its  various  names  from  its  different  call-notes,  or,  rather, 
from  different  interpretations  of  these  notes.  It  is  essentially  a  thicket-loving  bird, 
and  is  a  most  energetic  scratcher,  a  small  band  of  them  making  almost  as  much 
noise  among  the  dead  leaves  as  a  hen  with  chickens.  In  the  mountains  it  is  accused 
of  pulling  young  corn,  but  from  the  other  parts  of  the  State  we  hear  no  complaint 
on  the  subject. 

247.  Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  alleni  (Coues).    WHITE-EYED  TOWHEE. 

Description. — Similar  to  common  Towhee,  but  white  on  wings  and  tail  more  restricted  (on 
tail  confined  to  two  outer  tail-feathers  only,  or  else  represented  on  third  by  small  spots  only; 
while  in  the  Towhee  proper  the  white  is  present  on  three  outer  tail-feathers,  and  often  as  small 
spots  on  the  fourth).  Iris  white  in  adult  male. 

Range. — Florida  to  North  Carolina,  along  the  coast  only. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Probably  coastal  region  from  Beaufort  south;  at  present  only  known 
from  Beaufort. 

This  southern  coastal  form  of  the  Towhee  was  taken  by  Bruner  at  Beaufort, 
July  18,  1912  (adult  male  with  white  iris),  and  July  22,  1912  (immature  male). 

Genus  Cardinalis  (Bonap.) 

248.  Cardinalis  cardinalis  cardinalis  (Linn.}.    CARDINAL. 

Description:  Ad.  cf . — Throat  and  region  about  the  base  of  the  bill  black;  rest  of  the  plumage 
bright  rosy  red,  the  upperparts  tipped  with  grayish;  a  conspicuous  crest;  bill  red.  Ad.  9 . — 
Throat  and  region  about  the  base  of  bill  grayish  black;  crest,  wings,  and  tail  dull  red;  upperparts 
olive  brownish  ash;  underparts  buffy  ochraceous,  lighter  on  the  belly,  and  sometimes  tinged  with 
red  on  the  breast.  L.,  8.25;  W.,  3.75;  T.,  4.00;  B.,  .64.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Resident  throughout  the  whole  State. 

The  Cardinal,  commonly  called  in  this  State  "Redbird"  or  "Winter  Redbird," 
is  a  common  resident  everywhere.  The  nest  is  made  of  weed  stems,  leaves,  and 
grass.  Usually  it  is  lined  with  grass,  and  is  built  in  a  low  bush,  small  tree,  or 


DESCEIPTIVE  LIST  253 


bunch  of  briars,  generally  at  a  height  of  from  two  to  four  feet,  but  occasionally 
higher,  and  we  have  one  record  of  a  nest  situated  at  a  height  of  twelve  feet.  The 
eggs  are  commonly  three  in  number,  but  there  are  two  sets  of  four  in  the  State 
Museum,  collected  by  Dr.  Smithwick  in  Bertie  County.  They  are  of  a  white 
ground,  marked  with  spots  of  reddish  brown,  gray  and  lavender,  usually  pretty  well 
scattered  over  the  whole  surface,  but  sometimes  clustered  about  the  larger  end. 
Size  1.00  x  .75.  They  are  laid  from  late  April  to  early  July. 


FIG.  201.     CARDINAL. 

The  Cardinal,  like  the  Towhee,  is  preeminently  a  thicket-haunting  bird,  but  does 
not  spend  so  much  of  its  time  on  the  ground,  apparently  preferring  to  eat  berries 
in  the  top  of  a  tree  rather  than  gather  food  on  the  earth  at  its  base.  Its  song  is  a 
series  of  loud,  clear  whistles. 

Genus  Zamelodia  (Coues) 
249.  Zamelodia  ludoviciana  (Linn.).     ROSE-BREASTED  GROSBEAK. 

Description. — Male  with  head,  neck  and  upperparts  mostly  black,  with  some  white  on  wings, 
tail,  and  rump;  breast  and  under  wing-coverts  bright  rose-red.  Female  olive-brown,  much 
streaked,  with  the  under  wing-coverts  saffron-yellow;  head  with  whitish  stripes.  Extreme  meas- 
urements of  four  Rose-breasted  Grosbeaks  from  North  Carolina:  L.,  7.85-8.25;  W.,  3.95-4.45; 
T.,  2.85-3.15. 

Range.— Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  northern  United  States  northward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — A  resident  in  the  mountains  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  a  rare  migrant 
in  the  rest  of  the  State. 

The  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak  is  a  common  bird  during  the  summer  months  in  at 
least  portions  of  the  mountain  region,  arriving  from  the  south  late  in  April,  and 
has  been  noted  in  Buncombe  County  as  late  as  October  23.  It  breeds  mainly  at  an 
elevation  of  3,000  feet  and  upward.  The  nests  are  flat,  shallow  structures,  com- 
posed of  small  twigs,  vegetable  fibers  and  grass,  and  are  built  in  a  bush  or  tree.  Of 
four  nests  found  by  Cairns  in  Buncombe  County,  one  was  in  a  small  bush  three 
feet  up,  another  twenty  feet  high  in  a  haw  tree,  and  the  remaining  two  respectively 


254  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


seven  and  nine  feet  high  in  unnamed  saplings.  According  to  Cairns,  the  eggs  are 
laid  in  May.  They  are  greenish  blue  in  ground-color,  more  or  less  spotted  over  the 
entire  surface  with  blotches  of  reddish  brown.  Size  about  the  same  as  those  of  the 
Cardinal. 


FIG.  202.     ROSE-BREASTED  GROSBEAK. 

Outside  of  the  mountains  this  bird  is  only  recorded  from  Chapel  Hill  and  Raleigh, 
where  it  has  been  observed  in  the  spring  between  April  28  and  May  8,  and  at 
Guilford  College,  where  Pearson  saw  five  on  May  9,  1897. 

Like  the  Cardinal,  it  is  a  pleasing  singer;  and  it  is  one  of  the  few  birds  that  care 
for  potato-bugs  as  an  article  of  diet. 

Genus  Guiraca  (Swains.) 
250.  Guiraca  caerulea  cserulea  (Linn.}.    BLUE  GROSBEAK. 

Description. — Male,  blue  with  chestnut  wing-bars;  female,  yellowish  brown  with  whitish 
wing-bars.  Immature  males  are  only  partly  blue,  the  tint  in  that  case  being  restricted  to  the 
head  and  forepart  of  the  body.  Females  are  occasionally  somewhat  blue.  Extreme  measure- 
ments of  75  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  6.25-7.25;  W.,  3.00-3.65;  T.,  2.38-2.90. 

Range. — Southeastern  United  States  in  summer;  wintering  south  of  our  border. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — A  summer  resident  in  the  central  and  eastern  districts. 


Fict.  203.     BLUE  GROSBEAK. 


The  Blue  Grosbeak  is  a  summer  visitor  in  that  portion  of  the  State  lying  east 
of  the  mountain  ranges,  arriving  from  the  south  late  in  April  or  early  in  May,  and 
leaving  again  late  in  September. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  255 


This  bird,  which  is  sometimes  called  "Big  Indigo,"  is  a  frequenter  of  compara- 
tively open  country,  nesting  usually  in  small  trees,  or  sometimes  on  the  lower  limbs 
of  larger  ones.  The  nest  is  inclined  to  be  bulky,  and  is  constructed  of  weed  stems 
or  grass,  and  is  often  lined  with  horsehair.  Sometimes  lint,  cotton,  rags,  and 
pieces  of  paper  are  used  in  its  construction.  Usually  it  is  built  in  a  fork  of  a  small 
tree  or  bush  at  a  height  varying  from  three  to  eight  feet.  The  eggs  are  four  in 
number,  and  are  laid  in  this  latitude  from  late  May  to  mid-July.  They  are  white 
and  unmarked.  Size  about  .85  x  .65. 

Like  other  brightly  colored  birds  of  this  family,  the  Blue  Grosbeak  is  a  good 
singer.  It  is  rather  partial  to  corn,  which  its  powerful  bill  enables  it  to  crack  with 
ease. 

Although  not  common  in  western  North  Carolina,  Cairns  found  it  at  Weaver- 
ville  on  June  10,  1888.  Other  records  from  near  the  mountains  are  Taylorsville, 
Alexander  County,  two  seen  in  June,  1909,  by  Bruner ;  and  Morganton,  found  breed- 
ing by  Wayne  the  same  year. 

Genus  Passerina  (Vieill.) 

Contains  a  number  of  small,  brightly  colored  finches,  the  males  of  which  have 
more  or  less  blue  in  the  plumage.  Both  of  the  two  eastern  species  occur  in  the 

State. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Male  all  blue;  female  clear  brown.     Indigo  Bunting. 

1.  Male  blue  with  red  and  green;  female  green  and  yellowish.     Painted  Bunting. 

251.  Passerina  cyanea  (Linn.}.    INDIGO  BUNTING. 

Description. — Male  in  summer  wholly  deep  blue;  lores  blackish,  wings  and  tail  black  with 
blue  margins;  female  clear  brown,  whitish,  beneath.  Extreme  measurements  of  59  specimens 
from  Raleigh:  L.,  5.12-5.90;  W.,  2.50-2.90;  T.,  1.9CK2.25. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America  in  summer;  wintering  south  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer. 


FIG.  204.     INDIGO  BUNTING. 


The  Indigo  is  an  abundant  summer  visitor  throughout  our  State,  the  first 
arrivals  from  the  south  appearing  late  in  April.  It  departs  the  last  week  in 
October.  Like  the  preceding  species,  it  is  not  a  woodland  bird,  though  partial  to 


256  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


places  where  low  bushes  are  abundant.  The  nest  is  much  like  that  of  the  preced- 
ing, but  smaller,  and  is  usually  not  so  high  from  the  ground,  being  not  infre- 
quently found  in  blackberry  briars.  The  eggs,  which  are  generally  four,  are  laid 
in  June  and  July  and  are  pure  white.  Size  .73  x  .53. 

The  Indigo  Bunting  is  a  fair  singer,  but  not  equal  to  any  one  of  the  three  pre- 
ceding species. 

252.  Passerina  ciris  (Linn.).    PAINTED  BUNTING;  NONPAREIL. 

Description. — Male  with  head  and  neck  blue,  underparts  vermilion;  back  golden  green;  rump 
and  tail  purplish  brown.  Female  olive-green  above,  pale,  yellowish-green  below.  L.,  5.40; 
W.,  2.70;  T.,  2.15. 

Range. — South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  wintering  in  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Coastal  region,  from  Beaufort  southward. 

The  Painted  Bunting  is  a  summer  visitor  along  the  southern  half  of  our  coast, 
arriving  probably  in  April,  like  its  more  abundant  cousin,  the  Indigo.  In  the 
neighborhood  of  Beaufort  it  has  been  recorded  as  early  as  June  by  Pearson,  and  in 
late  July  and  early  August  by  Bruner.  Farther  south,  in  Brunswick  and  New 
Hanover  counties,  Pearson  has  found  it  common  in  May,  June,  and  July.  He 
watched  a  male  carrying  building  material  to  a  nearly  completed  nest  at  Lock- 
wood's  Folly  in  Brunswick  County  on  June  12,  1898.  Some  ornithologists  have 
stated  that  the  Nonpareil  usually  sings  from  the  interior  of  a  bush  or  tree,  but 
Pearson  has  often  observed  them  occupying  elevated  terminal  twigs  when  thus 
engaged. 

The  nest  does  not  differ  materially  from  that  of  the  Indigo,  but  the  eggs,  instead 
of  being  unmarked  as  in  that  species,  are  spotted  with  reddish  brown. 

Another  genus  of  this  family,  one,  a  representative  of  which  may  occur  in  our  State,  is  Spiza, 
represented  in  the  United  States  by  the  Dickcissel  or  Black-throated  Bunting,  Spiza  americana 
(Gmel.).  In  this  bird  the  male  has  a  black  patch  on  the  throat,  and  a  yellow  breast,  while  the 
female  lacks  the  black  patch,  and  has  the  yellow  much  duller;  in  size  it  is  somewhat  larger  than 
an  English  Sparrow,  which  it  resembles  in  the  general  appearance  of  the  upper  surface;  markings 
above  somewhat  similar. 

It  occurs  mainly  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  but  as  C.  A.  Reed  identified  one  at  Ocean 
View,  near  Norfolk,  Virginia,  in  the  summer  of  1907,  we  may  expect  to  learn  of  its  occurrence  in 
North  Carolina  at  any  time. 

46.    FAMILY  TANGAR1D>E.     TANAGERS 

This  is  a  large  family  of  tropical  American  birds,  a  few  species  only  occurring 
in  temperate  regions.  The  species  are  said  to  grade  into  the  wood-warblers  on  the 
one  hand,  and  into  the  finches  on  the  other,  some  forms  having  stout  bills  and 
others  being  equipped  with  slender  ones.  Only  a  single  genus  occurs  with  us. 

Genus  Piranga  (Vieill.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Male  scarlet,  with  black  wings  and  tail;  female  olive-green,  the  wings  and  tail  darker,  under- 
parts light  greenish  yellow.  Scarlet  Tanager. 

1.  Male  bright  rose  red,  wings  and  tail  the  same  color;  female  brownish  olive,  dull  yellowish 
below.  Summer  Tanager. 


Plate  19 


PAINTED    BUNTING.     Passerina  ciris   (Linn.)        Male  and  Female. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  257 


253.  Piranga  erythromelas"  (Vieill).    SCARLET  TANAGER. 

Description:  Ad.  male  in  summer. — -Bright  scarlet,  wings  and  tail  black,  under  wing-coverts 
white.  Ad.  male  in  winter. — Similar  to  the  female,  but  wings  and  tail  black.  Im.  male  in 
winter. — Similar  to  female,  but  wing-coverts  black.  Im.  male  in  summer. — Similar  to  ad.  male 
in  summer,  but  primaries  and  secondaries  as  in  winter.  The  adult  summer  plumage  is  acquired 
at  the  second  spring  (prenuptial)  molt.  Ad.  female. — Upperparts  light  olive-green;  wings  and 
tail  fuscous,  lightly  margined  with  olive-green;  underparts  greenish  yellow.  L.,  7.25;  W.,  3.75; 
T.,  2.09;  B.  from  N.,  .46.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N,.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  wintering  in  West  Indies,  Mexico,  and  south. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Migrant  in  the  central  part  of  the  State,  breeds  in  the  mountains. 


FIG.  205.     SCARLET  TANAGER. 

The  Scarlet  Tanager,  called  in  the  Sapphire  country  "Toxaway  Bird,"  is  a  late 
April  and  early  May  migrant  in  the  centre  of  the  State,  passing  south  again  in 
September  and  early  October.  In  the  mountains  it  remains  for  the  summer.  The 
nest  is  generally  in  low  thick  woods  on  the  horizontal  limb  of  a  low  tree  or  sapling, 
and  is  constructed  of  twigs  and  fine  bark  strips,  lined  with  rootlets.  The  eggs  are 
three  to  five  in  number,  of  a  greenish-blue  ground-color,  speckled,  spotted,  and 
blotched  with  reddish-brown,  often  with  confluent  markings.  Size  .95  x  .65.  This 
tanager  nests  in  May  and  June  in  Buncombe  County. 

It  is  quite  a  good  singer,  the  song  somewhat  suggesting  the  Robin.  The  females 
are  difficult  to  distinguish  from  those  of  the  following  species  by  color  alone,  but 
are  usually  lighter,  and  the  bill  is  decidedly  smaller,  measuring  only  about  half  an 
inch  along  the  culmen,  while  that  of  the  Summer  Tanager  measures  three-fourths 
of  an  inch. 

254.  Piranga  rubra  rubra  (Linn.).    SUMMER  TANAGER. 

Description:  Ad.  male. — Rose-red,  brighter  below;  wings  fuscous,  margined  with  rose-red. 
Im.  male  in  winter. — Similar  to  the  female,  but  with  more  or  less  of  a  reddish  tinge  throughout 
the  plumage.  Im.  male  in  summer. — Variable;  sometimes  a  mixture  of  ad.  male  and  female 
plumages,  at  others  like  the  ad.  male,  but  wing-quills  as  in  female.  The  ad.  male  plumage  is 
acquired  at  the  first  postnuptial  molt  and  retained  thereafter  at  all  seasons.  Ad.  female. — 
Upperparts  orange  olive-green;  underparts  yellowish  orange.  L.,  7.50;  W.,  3.75;  T.,  2.90;  B. 
from  N.,  .55.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  from  Maryland  southward,  in  summer;  wintering  in  West 
Indies,  Mexico,  and  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — A  summer  visitor  in  the  eastern  and  central  parts,  and  in  the  valleys 
among  the  mountains. 

The  Summer  Tanager,  often  called  "Summer  Redbird,"  is  a  common  summer 
resident  throughout  most  of  the  State,  arriving  from  the  south  about  the  middle 
of  April  and  leaving  late  in  September. 

17 


258  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  nest  is  a  rather  shallow,  saucer-shaped  structure,  composed  of  dark  weed- 
stems  outside,  and  of  light  colored  grass  within,  the  colors  of  the  two  layers  being 
in  abrupt  contrast.  It  is  built  on  the  horizontal  limb  of  some  medium-sized  tree, 
often  an  oak  or  pine.  The  eggs  are  usually  three  in  number,  laid  in  May  or  June, 
and  are  light  green  in  ground-color,  spotted,  speckled,  and  blotched  with  various 
shades  of  lilac,  brownish-purple  and  dark  brown;  average  size  .95  x  .65. 


FIG.  206.     SUMMER  TANAGER. 

The  Summer  Tanager  is  a  better  singer  than  its  more  gaudy  relative  in  scarlet 
and  black,  and  its  song  is  even  more  like  that  of  the  Robin,  but  is  more  continuous. 

Both  the  Tanagers  are  woodland  birds,  the  present  species  being  equally  at 
home  in  pine  forests,  mixed  woods,  groves  of  shade  trees  near  houses,  or  mulberry 
orchards.  In  matters  of  diet  it  seems  to  prefer  bees  and  wasps.  Its  bill  is  well 
fitted  for  the  task  of  quickly  crushing  stinging  insects. 

Although  the  fact  is  not  mentioned  in  Chapman's  descriptions,  the  females  not 
infrequently  have  the  plumage  more  or  less  flushed  with  red. 

47.    FAMILY  HIRUNDINIDyC.      SWALLOWS 

Swallows  are  found  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  may  be  known  from  other 
perching  birds  by  their  long,  pointed  wings,  and  deeply  cleft  mouth,  the  latter  being 
a  veritable  dip-net  with  which  the  bird  catches  its  insect-prey  while  on  the  wing 

Six  genera  occur  with  us. 

KEY   TO    GENERA 

1.  Color  of  upperparts  brown.     See  2. 

1.  Color  of  upperparts  more  or  less  bluish.     See  3. 

2.  Outer  web  of  outer  primary  with  stiff  recurved  hooks.     Stelgidopteryx. 

2.  Outer  web  of  outer  primary  without  hooks.     Riparia. 

3.  Tail  forked  for  more  than  half  its  length.     Hirundo. 

3.  Tail  not  forked  for  more  than  half  its  length.     See  4. 

4.  Length  more  than  7.00.     Progne. 

4.  Length  less  than  7.00.     See  5. 

5.  Throat  white.     Iridoprocne. 

5.  Throat  chestnut.     Petrochelidon, 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


259 


Genus  Progne  (Boie.) 
255.  Progne  subis  subis  (Linn.}.    PURPLE  MARTIN. 

Description. — -Male  lustrous  blue-black,  above  and  below;  wings  and  tail  duller.  Female 
duller,  underparts  grayish,  belly  white.  Extreme  measurements  of  six  North  Carolina  speci- 
mens: L.,  7.50-7.90;  W.,  5.15-^.00;  T.,  2.50-3.15. 

Range. — Most  of  North  America  in  summer. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer. 


FIG.  207.     PURPLE  MARTIN. 


The  Purple  Martin,  better  known  as  "  Black  Martin,"  is  locally  common  through- 
out the  State,  its  abundance  in  summer  being  apparently  dependent  on  the  nesting 
facilities,  in  the  way  of  martin  boxes  or  suspended  gourds,  which  man  provides  for 
its  accommodation.  There  is  a  marked,  but  unexplained,  irregularity  in  the  dates 
of  its  arrival  in  the  State.  Thus  it  is  said  to  reach  Bertie  County  in  the  middle  or 
latter  part  of  March,  while  in  most  of  the  remainder  of  the  State  the  earliest  dates 
are  about  the  middle  of  April,  with  an  occasional  March  record.  For  instance,  at 
Raleigh  it  has  been  recorded  only  once  in  March  (March  16,  1907),  in  twenty-five 
years  of  observation. — (C.  S.  BRIMLEY.) 

This  species  used  to  breed  in  hollow  trees ,  but  since  the  white  man  came  and  pro- 
vided better  accommodations  for  nesting  places  it  has  discontinued  this  custom, 


260  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


and  taken  to  the  ways  of  civilization.  The  nests  are  composed  of  leaves,  grasses, 
rootlets,  mud,  twigs,  rags,  or  any  other  convenient  materials.  The  eggs  are  four  to 
six  in  number,  laid  in  May  or  June.  They  are  pure  glossy  white;  size  .98  x  .65. 

While  a  very  useful  insectivorous  bird,  it  flocks  in  such  numbers  during  the  fall 
migrations  as  sometimes  to  become  a  great  nuisance.  At  Wrightsville,  near  Wil- 
mington, a  few  years  ago,  they  gathered  to  roost  in  such  enormous  numbers  in  late 
summer  as  almost  to  empty  the  neighboring  summer  hotel.  A  similar  circumstance 
was  reported  from  Mount  Airy,  Surry  County,  in  September,  1885  and  1886. 
Probably  200,000  have  roosted  of  recent  years  in  a  grove  in  the  center  of  the  town 
of  Greensboro,  Guilford  County.  The  last  birds  of  this  species  leave  the  State  for 
their  winter  homes  in  Mexico  during  the  month  of  September. 

Genus  Petrochelidon  (Cab.) 
256.  Petrochelidon  lunifrons  lunifrons  (Say.)    CLIFF  SWALLOW. 

Description. — Lustrous  steel  blue;  forehead,  sides  of  head,  throat  and  rump  different  shades 
of  chestnut;  a  blue  spot  on  breast;  belly  whitish.     L.,  6.01;  W.,  4.35;  T.,  2.01. 
Range. — North  America  in  summer;  in  winter  Central  America. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  known  only  as  a  migrant  in  various  portions  of  the  State. 


FIG.  208.     CLIFF  SWALLOW. 


At  present  the  Cliff  or  Eaves  Swallow  is  known  only  as  a  spring  transient  at 
Raleigh,  where  it  has  been  observed  in  six  different  years  between  April  26  and 
May  9;  at  Weaverville  it  was  found  by  Cairns  between  April  15  and  May  1,  in 
1892  and  1893;  and  at  Lake  Ellis  in  Craven  County,  where  C.  S.  Brimley  saw  a 
single  specimen  on  May  8,  1906. 

The  Cliff  Swallow  is  not  very  different  in  its  habits  from  other  swallows,  its 
chief  peculiarity  consisting  in  the  fact  that  it  builds  a  gourd-shaped  nest  of  pellets 
of  mud,  fastening  it  against  the  face  of  overhanging  cliffs  or  underneath  the  eaves 
of  buildings.  The  eggs  resemble  those  of  the  Barn  Swallow  in  being  spotted,  while 
those  of  all  our  other  species  are  pure  white  without  markings.  Size  .80  x  .55. 

Genus  Hirundo  (Linn.) 
257.  Hirundo  erythrogastra  (Bodd.).    BARN  SWALLOW. 

Description—  Lustrous  steel  blue,  buffy  below;  forehead  and  throat  deep  chestnut;  tail-feathers 
with  white  spots,  under  tail-coverts  rufous.  Extreme  measurements  of  21  Raleigh  specimens: 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  261 


L.,  5.85-7.60;  W.,  4.50-4.95;  T.,  2.20-4.15.  The  difference  in  total  length  and  in  length  of 
tail  depends  mainly  on  the  degree  of  development  of  the  two  outer  tail-feathers  in  different  birds, 
only  fully  adult  males  having  the  scissor-like  shape  fully  developed,  while  in  young  males  and 
females  the  tail  is  much  shorter  and  less  forked. 

Range. — Whole  of  North  America  in  summer;  wintering  in  Central  and  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  during  migrations,  only  known  at  present  to  nest  in 
Watauga  County  in  the  mountains,  and  in  a  few  places  along  the  coast. 


FIG.  209.     BARN  SWALLOW. 

The  Barn  Swallow,  the  only  North  American  species  having  a  real  "  swallow- 
tail," is  a  rather  common  spring  migrant  in  our  State  during  the  greater  part  of 
April  and  May.  Again  it  is  seen  in  August  and  the  first  half  of  September.  It 
usually  flies  in  large  flocks,  particularly  over  marshy  ground  or  above  water,  and 
not  infrequently  is  found  in  company  with  other  species  of  the  family. 

Thus  far  we  have  three  breeding  records  for  the  State.  One  comes  from  Pea 
Island,  where  Bishop  and  Pearson  have  both  found  it  breeding.  At  Wrightsville 
two  nests  with  young  were  discovered  under  the  eaves  of  a  summer  hotel  in  July, 
1903,  by  Pearson.  He  and  H.  H.  Brimley  observed  several  on  the  Cape  Fear 
River,  fifteen  miles  above  Southport,  in  June,  1909.  Away  from  the  coast  our  only 
breeding  record  is  furnished  by  Sherman,  who  found  a  pair  nesting  in  a  barn  at 
Valle  Crucis,  Watauga  County,  in  late  June,  1909. 

The  nest  is  a  bowl-shaped  structure,  composed  of  mud,  lined  with  feathers.    It  is 
open  above  and  is  placed  on  a  rafter  inside  a  barn,  or  in  similar  situations.    The  eggs 
are  white,  spotted  with  reddish  brown,  chiefly  near  the  larger  end.    Size  .75  x  .55. 
Four  to  six  are  laid. 

Genus  Iridoprocne  (Coues) 

258.  Iridoprocne  bicolor  (Vieill.}.    TREE  SWALLOW. 

Description. — Lustrous  blue-green  above,  underparts  pure  white.  Extreme  measurements 
of  26  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  5.6(H6.00;  W.,  4.50-4.85;  T.,  2.2072.50. 

Range. — Whole  of  North  America,  wintering  more  or  less  in  the  extreme  southern  States, 
and  in  the  West  Indies  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — A  common  spring  migrant  in  the  State  from  Chapel  Hill  eastward, 
at  times  a  winter  visitor  along  the  coast,  and  sometimes  seen  in  the  fall  migrations. 

The  Tree  or  White-bellied  Swallow,  easily  distinguished  from  all  our  other  swal- 
lows by  the  pure  white  underparts,  is  a  common  spring  migrant  in  the  eastern  half 
of  the  State.  Here  it  has  been  noted  from  March  12  to  May  20  in  spring,  and  in 


262  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


fall  from  early  August  to  mid-October.  In  the  tidewater  section  it  has  thrice  been 
recorded  in  winter,  namely,  below  New  Bern  in  January,  1885,  by  H.  H.  Brimley; 
at  Fort  Macon  by  Coues  in  January,  February,  and  March,  1870,  and  at  Lake 
Ellis,  Craven  County,  November  6-13, 1910,  observed  to  be  common  by  H.  H.  Brim- 
ley.  We  have  no  summer  records  for  it,  but  Pearson  found  the  species  common  at 
Cape  Hatteras  on  April  19,  1898;  and  saw  several  birds  looking  into  holes  of  dead 
trees  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Mattamuskeet  on  April  16,  1898. 


FIG.  210.     TREE  SWALLOW. 

The  Tree  Swallows  nest  in  holes  in  dead  trees,  usually  in  the  neighborhood  of 
water;  in  fact,  these  birds  are  seldom  seen  far  from  it.  On  the  coast  of  Maine, 
Pearson  has  found  them  nesting  commonly  in  boxes  on  poles  erected  by  lobster  men. 
The  nest  is  lined  with  grass  and  similar  material,  with  an  inside  layer  of  feathers, 
in  which  comfortable  bed  five  to  seven  pure  white  eggs  are  laid.  The  nesting  season 
is  said  to  be  from  May  to  July,  but  in  this  latitude  we  can  doubtless  omit  the  latter 
month  from  our  calculations.  They  are  known  to  breed  near  Cape  Charles,  Vir- 
ginia. 

Genus  Riparia  (Forst) 

259.  Riparia  riparia  (Linn.}.    BANK  SWALLOW. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  brownish  gray;  throat  white;  a  brownish-gray  band  on  the 
breast;  outer  vane  of  first  primary  without  recurved  booklets;  a  small  tuft  of  feathers  above  the 
hindtoe.  L.,  5.20;  W.,  3.95;  T.,  2.00;  B.  from  N.,  .18.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  hemisphere;  in  America  wintering  in  West  Indies,  South  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Rare  migrant  throughout  the  State. 

The  Bank  Swallow  has  been  recorded  in  this  State  as  a  migrant  at  Fort  Macon 
(Coues,  1870);  a  rare  transient  in  Buncombe  County  (Cairns,  1891);  and  as  com- 
mon along  the  Tuckaseegee  River,  near  Dillsboro,  in  May,  1888  (W.  A.  and  J.  A. 
Jeffries).  The  only  other  records  come  from  the  two  specimens  taken  by  H.  H. 
and  C.  S.  Brimley  at  Raleigh  on  April  24,  1888,  and  on  August  8,  1896. 

In  feeding  and  nesting  habits  this  bird  closely  resembles  the  Rough-winged  Swal- 
low, which  seems  largely  to  replace  it  in  the  Southeastern  States.  Both  birds  are 
called  "Bank  Swallow"  by  casual  observers. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  263 


FIG.  211.     BANK  SWALLOW. 

Genus  Stelgidopteryx  (Baird) 
260.  Stelgidopteryx  serripennis  (And.}.    ROUGH-WINGED  SWALLOW. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  brownish  gray;  throat  and  breast  pale,  brownish  gray;  belly 
white;  outer  web  of  first  primary  with  a  series  of  recurved  booklets  (sometimes  absent  in  female); 
no  tuft  of  feathers  above  the  hindtoe.  1m. — Similar,  but  without  recurved  booklets  on  the 
first  primary;  throat  and  breast  more  or  less  washed  and  wing-coverts  edged  with  rufous.  L., 
5.75;  W.,  4.35;  T..  2.10;  B.  from  N.,  .19.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — United  States,  except  extreme  northern  portion,  wintering  in  Mexico  and  Central 
Ame"ica. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — A  rather  common  summer  resident  throughout  the  State,  arriving 
in  the  eastern  and  central  sections  about  the  end  of  March  or  first  part  of  April,  and  in  the  moun- 
tain region  near  the  middle  of  April. 


FIG.  212.     ROUGH-WINGED  SWALLOW. 


The  Rough-winged  Swallow,  commonly  called  Bank  Swallow,  is  not  an  uncom- 
mon summer  visitor  with  us.  It  is  an  early  arrival  from  the  south  (last  of  March), 
and  it  departs  shortly  after  the  breeding  season.  The  latest  date  at  which  it  has 
been  observed  at  Raleigh  is  July  17. 

This  species  nests  in  holes  in  banks,  which  it  sometimes  excavates  for  this  pur- 
pose. If  a  burrow  is  used,  it  generally  runs  in  for  two  or  three  feet,  terminating 
in  a  slight  depression  that  is  lined  with  grass  or  feathers.  Railway  cuts  or  the  high 
banks  of  streams  furnish  suitable  situations.  The  eggs  are  four  to  six  in  number, 
white,  without  markings,  and  are  laid  in  May  or  June.  Pearson  found  an  occupied 


264  BIRDS  OF  ^ORTH  CAROLINA 


nest  in  a  Kingfisher's  burrow  in  Gates  County  in  June,  1892.    The  Swallow's  nest 
covered  deeply  the  four  abandoned  eggs  of  a  Kingfisher. 

Like  all  our  swallows,  this  species  is  exclusively  insectivorous,  and  is  worthy  of 
the  fullest  protection.  On  account  of  its  great  powers  of  flight,  which  it  shares 
with  all  the  rest  of  the  family,  it  is  able  to  seek  its  prey  over  a  wide  range  of  country. 

48.    FAMILY  BOMBYCILI_ID>E.      WAXW1NGS 

This  family  contains  but  a  single  genus  and  three  species,  one  of  these  being 
American,  a  second  Japanese,  and  the  third  occurs  in  the  northern  portions  of 
Europe,  Asia,  and  America.  All  are  crested,  and  the  plumage  is  very  soft  and  silky. 

Genus  Bombycilla  (Vieill.) 
261.  Bombycilla  cedrorum  (Vieill.).    CEDAR  WAXWING. 

Description. — Plumage  soft  and  silky  and  cinnamon-drab  in  color.     Secondaries  often  tipped 
with  horny  appendages  resembling  red  sealing  wax.     These  are  frequently  absent  in  females  and 
young  birds.     Tail  tipped  with  yellow.     Extreme  measurements  of  35  specimens  from  Raleigh: 
L.,  6.50-7.35;  W.,  3.55-3.85;  T.,  2.15-2.55. 
Range. — Whole  of  temperate  North  America. 

_  Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons,  but  very  erratic  in  its  annual  and  seasonal 
distribution  and  occurrence. 


FIG.  213.     CEDAR  WAXWING. 

"The  Cedar  Waxwing,  also  known  as  the  'Cedar-bird'  and  'Cherry-bird,'  goes  in 
flocks,  except  in  the  breeding  season,  being  seemingly  attracted  to  any  particular 
locality  by  the  extra  supply  of  food  there.  It  feeds  on  all  sorts  of  berries,  and  is 
sometimes  a  nuisance  as,  when  a  big  flock  of  these  birds  settle  down  in  a  trucker's 
strawberry  patch,  there  is  likely  to  be  a  considerable  diminution  in  the  number  of 
salable  berries  before  they  get  up  again.  On  the  wing  they  fly  very  much  as  if  they 
had  been  drilled,  every  bird  seeming  to  move  its  wings  in  time  with  the  rest,  and  a 
flock  of  Cedar-birds  compared  with  a  flock  of  blackbirds,  for  instance,  looks  very 
much  like  a  company  of  regular  soldiers  by  the  side  of  a  disorderly  mob. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


265 


"The  eggs,  generally  five  in  number,  have  a  slaty  ground-color,  tinged  with  olive, 
and  are  marked  with  blotches  of  dark  brown  and  purple.  Size  about  .85  x  .60.  The 
only  nest  I  ever  found  was  forty  feet  high  on  the  horizontal  limb  of  a  pine,  being 
constructed  of  weed  stems  lined  with  grass.  The  nest  contained  five  eggs  on  June 
13,  1890. 

"Personally  I  have  noticed  this  species  feeding  on  strawberries,  mulberries,  per- 
simmons, frost-grapes,  and  the  berries  of  cedar,  privet,  holly,  and  Ilex  decidua." — 
C.  S.  BRIMLEY. 

49.     FAMILY  LAN1ID/E.       SHRIKES 

Genus  Lanius  (Linn.) 

Three  forms  of  this  genus  occur  with  us,  all  being  very  much  alike. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Wing  4.33  or  more.     Lower  eyelid  more  or  less  white.     Black  on  sides  of  head  not  meeting 
across  forehead.     Northern  Shrike. 

1.  Wing  4.25  or  less.     Lower  eyelid  not  white.     Black  on  sides  of  head  meeting  across  forehead. 

See  2. 

2.  Wings  longer  than  tail.     Migrant  Shrike. 

2.  Wings  shorter  than  tail.     Loggerhead  Shrike. 

262.  Lanius  borealis  (Vieill).     NORTHERN  SHRIKE. 

Description:  Ads. — ^Upperparts  gray;  wings  and  tail  black;  primaries  white  at  base,  secondaries 
tipped  with  white  or  grayish;  outer,  sometimes  all,  the  tail-feathers  tipped  with  white,  the  outer 
feather  mostly  white;  forehead  whitish;  lores  grayish  black;  ear-coverts  black;  underparts  white, 
generally  finely  barred  with  black;  bill  hooked  and  hawklike.  Im. — Similar,  but  entire  plumage 
more  or  less  heavily  barred  or  washed  with  grayish  brown.  L.,  10.32;  W.,  4.55;  T.,  4.00  B.  from 
N.,  .55.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range— Northern  North  America,  south  in  winter  to  the  Potomac  and  Ohio. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  known  from  Pea  Island. 


FIG.  214.     NORTHERN  SHRIKE. 


The  Northern  Shrike  claims  a  place  in  our  fauna  on  the  strength  of  an  immature 
male  killed  on  Pea  Island,  December  9,  1909,  by  Robertson  and  sent  in  the  flesh 
to  Bishop. 


266  BIRDS  OF  JSToRTH  CAROLINA 


263.  Lanius  ludovicianus  ludovicianus  (Linn.}.    LOGGERHEAD  SHRIKE. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  gray;  wings  and  tail  black;  primaries  white  at  base,  secondaries 
tipped  with  white;  outer,  sometimes  all,  the  tail-feathers  tipped  with  white;  the  outer  feather 
mostly  white;  lores  black,  connected  by  a  narrow  black  line  on  the  forehead  at  the  base  of  the 
bill;  ear-coverts  black;  underparts  white,  sometimes  tinged  with  gray.  L.,  9.00;  W.,  3.82;  T., 
3.87;  B.  from  N.,  .48;  depth  of  B.  at  N.,  .35  (average  of  nine  Florida  specimens).  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Southern  States,  north  to  North  Carolina;  resident. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Apparently  the  whole  coastal  region,  more  common  in  winter. 


FIG.  215.     LOGGERHEAD  SHRIKE. 

The  summer  records  of  Loggerhead  Shrikes  in  the  coastal  region  are:  LaGrange, 
rather  rare  resident,  breeds  (Smith wick);  Kelford,  Bertie  County,  two  seen  on 
telegraph  wires,  July  21,  1909  (Sherman);  Kingsboro,  Edgecombe  County,  two 
seen  at  Test  Farm,  July  27,  1909,  apparently  mated  (Sherman);  and  Laurinburg, 
Scotland  County,  one  seen  April  27,  1909  (Sherman).  On  May  12,  1900,  Pearson 
found  a  pair  of  birds  near  the  beach  behind  the  sheltering  dunes  a  few  miles  east 
of  Lockwood's  Folly,  Brunswick  County,  which  evidently  had  a  nest  near  by.  In 
searching  for  evidence  to  support  this  belief,  he  found  an  old  nest  which,  from  the 
character  of  its  structure,  he  felt  sure  had  been  built  by  Shrikes  probably  in  the 
previous  year. 

The  Loggerhead  Shrike  builds  its  nest  in  scrubby  or  thorny  trees  or  hedges, 
making  a  compact,  bulky  structure  of  weed  stems,  grass,  rootlets,  paper,  wool,  and 
feathers,  the  latter  being  the  lining  and  concealing  the  eggs  from  view.  The  eggs 
range  from  four  to  six  in  number.  In  color  they  are  dull  whitish  or  greenish  gray, 
marked  and  spotted  with  dull  purple,  pale  brown,  or  olive.  Size  .97  x  .73. 

All  shrikes  have  the  habit  of  impaling  their  prey  on  thorns,  splinters,  and  barbed- 
wire  fences,  when  not  desired  for  immediate  consumption.  Their  food  consists  of 
large  insects  and  small  birds,  mammals,  and  reptiles.  C.  S.  Brimley  recalls  finding 
a  Myrtle  Warbler  once  hanging  on  a  small  bush,  with  its  head  impaled  on  a  sharp 
thorn,  and  its  dried  body  swinging  in  the  wind.  Pearson  discovered  a  Shrike  in 
the  act  of  impaling  a  Chipping  Sparrow  on  a  splinter  of  a  wind-fallen  tree. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  267 


For  a  lookout  post  the  Loggerhead  prefers  the  top  of  a  small  tree  or  a  telephone 
or  telegraph  wire.  When  taking  flight  it  drops  abruptly  at  first,  as  if  the  weight 
of  its  body  were  too  great  for  the  short  wings  to  support. 

The  usual  notes  of  the  Loggerhead  are  harsh,  one  of  its  calls  being  very  like  the 
creaking  and  squealing  of  a  rusty  windlass.  It  has,  however,  at  times  a  low  and 
pleasing  song.  In  most  parts  of  the  State  where  it  has  received  a  local  name  it  is 
known  as  " French  Mockingbird,"  or  "Butcher  Bird." 

264.  Lanius  ludovicianus  migrans  (Palmer.}     MIGRANT  SHRIKE. 

Description. — Differs  from  the  Loggerhead  only  in  slightly  paler  color  and  in  having  the  wing 
longer  than  the  tail,  the  validity  of  which  latter  distinction  can  be  judged  by  the  following  extreme 
measurements  of  Raleigh  specimens  taken  from  September  to  February:  L.,  8.15-9.15;  W., 
3.65—4.00;  T.,  3.25-4.15.  Number  of  specimens  having  wings  longer  than  tail,  21;  with  tail 
longer  than  wings,  9;  with  wings  and  tail  equal,  7;  total,  37. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  occupying  the  northern  portion  in  summer,  and  migrating 
more  southward  in  winter. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Most  of  the  State  in  winter  and  fall,  and  parts  of  the  west  in  summer. 

The  Migrant  Shrike,  which  is  simply  the  more  northern  and  migratory  subspecies 
of  the  Loggerhead,  occurs  at  Raleigh  from  late  August  till  the  end  of  March,  and 
has  also  been  observed  in  winter  at  Durham,  Greensboro,  Guilford  College,  War- 
renton,  and  Chapel  Hill.  It  has  been  recorded  as  breeding  at  Statesville  (Mc- 
Laughlin),  and  Morganton  (Wayne),  and  as  a  migrant  in  Buncombe  County 
(Cairns). 

5O.    FAMILY  VIREONID>E.     VIREOS 

This  family  contains  a  number  of  small  insectivorous  birds,  with  the  bill  hooked 
slightly  at  the  tip.  In  this  State  they  seem  to  be  known  almost  exclusively  as 
"Hangers"  or  "Swinging-birds,"  from  the  way  in  which  they  suspend  their  nests 
from  the  limbs  of  trees.  Technically,  this  family  is  remarkable  for  the  fact  that 
different  species  possess  either  nine  or  ten  primaries,  which  character  in  other 
perching-birds  is  of  family  importance,  while  it  here  becomes  only  of  specific  im- 
portance. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  First  primary  two- fifths  or  more  length  of  second.     Wings  relatively  short  and  rounded,  not 
one-fourth  longer  than  tail;  bill  stout.     Vireo. 

1.  First  primary  very  short  or  apparently  wanting,  not  one-fourth  length  of  second.     Wings  long 

and  pointed,  one-fourth  or  more  longer  than  tail.     See  2. 

2.  Slender  species.     No  wing-bars  nor  orbital  ring.     Vireosylva. 

2.  Stout  species.     Wing-bars  and  orbital  ring  present.     Lanivireo. 

Genus  Vireosylva  (Bonap.) 

This  genus  includes  those  vireos,  which  have  long  wings  without  any  wing-bars, 
slender  bills,  and  no  orbital-ring.  The  species  are  all  very  much  alike,  but  so  far 
as  this  State  is  concerned  only  one  species  occurs  outside  the  mountain  region. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Crown  ashy,  edged  with  black.     Primaries  apparently  nine.     Red-eyed  Vireo. 

1.  Crown  ashy,  without  black.     See  2. 

2.  Primaries  apparently  nine.     Philadelphia  Vireo. 
2.  Primaries  evidently  ten.     Warbling  Vireo. 


26S 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


265.  Vireosylva  olivacea  (Linn.}.     RED-EYED  VIREO. 

Description. — Olive  green  above,  white  below.  Crown  ashy,  edged  on  each  side  with  blackish. 
A  white  superciliary  line  and  below  this  a  dusky  streak.  Iris  red.  Extreme  measurements  of 
45  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  5.65  to  6.25;  wing,  2.90"to  3.40;  tail,  1.95  to  2.30. 

Range. — North  America,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  wintering  in  Mexico,  Central  and 
South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer. 


FIG.  216.     RED-EYED  VIREO. 


The  Red-eyed  Vireo,  the  best  known  and  most  abundant  member  of  the  family, 
is  a  very  common  summer  resident  in  North  Carolina,  arriving  from  the  south 
about  the  middle  of  April,  although  somewhat  later  in  the  higher  and  more  north- 
ern localities  in  the  mountains.  The  latest  birds  do  not  leave  us  in  fall  until  the 
last  of  October.  This  is  one  of  the  few  birds  in  which  a  distinct  wave  of  migration 
has  been  noted  quite  distinct  from  the  one  which  brings  the  breeding  birds.  During 
May,  C.  S.  Brimley  has  often  observed  these  Vireos  migrating  in  the  lowgrounds 
fully  three  weeks  after  the  breeding  birds  had  arrived  in  the  upland  woods. 

The  nest  is  a  deep,  cup-shaped  structure,  made  of  bark,  grass,  and  other  vegetable 
substances  woven  together,  the  lining  being  of  finer  materials.  It  is  suspended  by 
the  rim  from  a  slender  fork  at  the  end  of  a  drooping  limb.  We  have  found  nests 
thus  situated  in  beech,  sweet  gum,  dogwood,  persimmon,  oak,  maple,  and  birch 
trees.  The  eggs  are  three,  occasionally  four,  pure  white  in  ground-color,  and  spar- 
ingly sprinkled  with  fine,  dark,  reddish-brown  dots,  chiefly  near  the  larger  end. 
Size  .85  x  .56.  At  Raleigh  nests  have  been  recorded  from  May  19  to  June  17,  and 
what  few  dates  we  have  for  other  North  Carolina  localities  also  fall  within  this 
period. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  269 


The  Red-eyed  Vireo  is  a  constant  and  persevering  singer,  and  one  of  the  few 
birds  that  sings  in  the  middle  of  the  day;  the  song-period,  however,  does  not  extend 
beyond  the  heat  of  early  summer.  Its  diet  is  strictly  insects,  and  it  seems  when 
hopping  about  among  the  branches  to  keep  a  lookout  mainly  for  those  forms  which 
may  be  above  its  head,  as  it  is  continually  looking  upward.  Like  all  other  vireos, 
it  will  stop  work  to  scold  the  moment  an  intruder  comes  near  its  nest. 

266.  Vireosylva  philadelphica  (Cass.).    PHILADELPHIA  VIREO. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  light  olive-green;  the  crown  sometimes  grayish;  a  whitish  line 
over  the  eye;  wings  and  tail  edged  with  olive-green;  no  wing-bars;  first  primary  nearly  as  long  as 
second;  entire  underparts  nearly  uniform,  pale,  greenish  yellow.  L.,  4.75;  W.,  2.60;  T.,  1.95;  B. 
from  N.,  .26. 

Remarks. — The  pale,  greenish-yellow  color  spread  almost  uniformly  over  the  entire  underparts 
distinguishes  this  bird  from  our  other  Vireos.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States;  wintering  in 
Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  known  as  a  rare  transient  in  the  mountains. 

The  Philadelphia  Vireo  is  known  in  this  State  only  as  a  rare  migrant  in  Bun- 
combe County,  where  it  was  once  taken  by  Cairns.  (See  Smithwick,  Catalogue  of 
the  Birds  of  North  Carolina,  1897.) 

267.  Vireosylva  gilva  gilva  (VieilL}.    WARBLING  VIREO. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  ashy  olive-green;  no  wing-bars;  wings  and  tail  edged  with 
the  color  of  the  back;  first  primary  very  short,  not  more  than  1.00  in  length;  underparts  white; 
slightly  washed  with  yellowish.  L.,  5.80;  W.,  2.85;  T.,  2.14;  B.  from  N.,  .30.  (Chap.,  Birds 
of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America;  wintering  in  Mexico. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Summer  visitor  in  at  least  parts  of  the  mountain  region. 

The  Warbling  Vireo  is  recorded  by  Cairns  as  a  rather  rare  summer  visitor  in 
Buncombe  County,  and  is  given  by  Minot  Davis  as  having  arrived  there  on  April 
21,  in  1899.  He  also  adds  the  statement  that  it  is  local,  and  breeds. 

In  general  habits  this  species  differs  little  from  the  Red-eyed  Vireo;  the  nest, 
however,  is  said  to  average  higher  from  the  ground  and  the  eggs  are  a  trifle  smaller. 
The  song  is  somewhat  similar,  but  is  more  continuous. 

Genus  Lanivireo  (Baird) 

Rather  stout  vireos,  with  comparatively  long  wings.  We  have  two  species,  one 
being  represented  by  two  subspecies. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES  AND  SUBSPECIES 

1.  Superciliary  line,  orbital  ring  and  anterior  underparts  yellow.     Yellow-throated  Vireo. 

1.  Superciliary  line,  orbital  ring,  and  underparts  white.     See  2. 

2.  Crown  bluish  ash,  in  contrast  to  olive-green  of  back.     Wing  less  than  3  inches.     Blue-heidsd 

Vireo. 

2.  Crown  and  back  more  or  less  uniform  blackish-plumbeous,  not  contrasting.     Wing  more  than 
3  inches.     Mountain  Solitary  Vireo. 

268.  Lanivireo  flavifrons  (Vieill).    YELLOW-THROATED  VIREO. 

Description. — Rich  olive-green  above,  becoming  ashy  on  rump;  bright  yellow  below,  except 
belly,  which  is  white.     Wing-bars  white.     Superciliary  line  and  orbital  ring  yellow.     Extreme 
measurements  of  48  Raleigh  specimens:     L.,  5.35-5.75;  W.,  2.90-3.15;  T.,  1.85-2.15. 
Range.—- Eastern  United  States,  south  in  winter  to  Central  America 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  breeding  throughout  its  range. 


270  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Yellow-throated  Vireo  arrives  in  our  State  from  the  south  about  the  middle 
of  April,  and  leaves  in  September.  The  song  is  loud  and  musical  and  is  continued 
virtually  during  the  entire  period  of  the  bird's  stay.  While  here  this  bird  may  be 
found  in  mixed  woods  or  in  groves  of  shade  trees  around  houses,  and  it  appears  to 
have  a  preference  for  groves  of  large  trees. 


FIG.  217.     YELLOW-THKOATED  VIREO. 


Its  nest  is  similar  to  that  of  the  Red-eyed  Vireo,  but  is  usually  placed  at  a  greater 
height  from  the  ground.  The  outside  is  often  ornamented  with  gray  lichens.  In 
true  vireo  fashion,  it  is  suspended  from  a  fork  at  the  end  of  a  limb,  and  the  eggs 
are  said  to  have  a  more  roseate  tinge,  and  to  be  more  heavily  marked  than  those 
of  the  other  members  of  the  family.  We  have  only  one  record  of  a  nest  taken 
in  North  Carolina;  this  was  at  Raleigh,  May  28,  1894.  It  contained  three  eggs, 
and  was  suspended  from  a  fork  at  the  end  of  a  long  limb  of  a  small  oak,  at  a  height 
of  eight  feet  from  the  ground. 

269.  Lanivireo  solitarius  solitarius  (Wils.}.    BLUE-HEADED  VIREO. 

Description:  Ads. — Top  and  sides  of  the  head  bluish  gray;  eye-ring  and  lores  white;  back 
olive-green;  greater  and  middle  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white,  forming  two  distinct  wing-bars; 
outer  web  of  tertials  edged  with  whitish;  underparts  white;  sides  washed  with  greenish  yellow. 
L.,  5.61;  W.,  2.96;  T.,  2.15;  B.  from  N.,  .28. 

Remarks. — This  species  may  be  known  by  its  white  lores  and  eye-ring,  and  bluish-gray  cheeks 
and  crown.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States;  wintering  in 
Mexico  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Spring  and  fall  migrant  thorughout  the  State. 

Except  that  this  form  occurs  with  us  in  both  the  spring  and  fall  migrations,  little 
can  be  said  about  it  that  does  not  apply  to  the  next  form,  nor  can  the  migration- 
records  of  the  two  forms  be  separated.  Seventy-three  specimens  have  been  taken 
at  Raleigh  on  various  dates,  as  follows :  January  3  (1891) ;  in  March  and  April,  and 
on  May  5,  1889;  July  27,  1892;  in  August,  September,  October,  and  on  November 
3,  1889;  and  December  15,  1885.  The  winter  and  summer  birds,  and  at  least  some 
of  the  others,  might  perhaps  just  as  correctly  be  enumerated  in  the  discussion  of 
the  next  form. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  271 


FIG.  218.     BLUE-HEADED  VIEEO. 

270.  Lanivireo  solitarius  alticola  (Brewst.}.    MOUNTAIN  VIREO. 

Description. — Similar  to  the  Blue-headed  Vireo,  but  larger,  with  the  crown  and  back  much 
darker,  being  in  typical  specimens  nearly  the  same  shade.  Extreme  measurements  of  20  speci- 
mens from  Raleigh,  Weaverville,  and  Statesville:  L.,  5.50-6.00;  W.,  3.00-3.25;  T.,  2.15-2.45. 

Range. — Southern  Alleghanies  in  summer,  wintering  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Mountain  region  in  summer,  also  to  some  extent  in  the  central 
portion  of  the  State,  as  far  east  at  least  as  Wakefield  in  Wake  County.  Occasional  also  in  winter 
at  Raleigh. 

The  Mountain  Solitary  Vireo  is  a  form  of  this  species  found  in  the  mountains 
of  our  State,  from  which  it  was  first  described  by  Brewster  from  an  adult  male 
taken  at  Highlands,  Macon  County,  May  29,  1885  (Auk,  Jan.,  1886).  It  also 
occurs  eastward  through  the  State,  apparently  becoming  less  typical  as  one  pro- 
ceeds until  reaching  eastern  Wake  County,  where  it  has  been  taken  in  early  July 
within  hearing  of  the  songs  of  the  Prothonotary  Warbler.  It  seems  rather  unusual 
that  a  bird  whose  chosen  breeding  grounds  are  in  the  high  mountains  and  Canada 
should  nest  in  our  hot  pine  woods  in  a  wholly  different  life  zone. 

In  the  mountains  it  appears  to  be  quite  a  common  and  universally  distributed 
bird,  having  been  found  in  Macon,  Cherokee,  Buncombe,  Watauga,  Avery,  Cald- 
well,  Haywood,  Transylvania,  and  Mitchell  counties.  It  arrives  in  the  State  late  in 
March,  and  departs  in  October  or  early  November.  In  the  mountains  it  breeds 
chiefly  in  deciduous  trees,  Cairns  having  found  a  nest  in  a  chestnut  tree  on  Craggy 
Mountain  in  Buncombe  County,  May  27,  1887.  Sherman  and  C.  S.  Brimley  saw  a 
pair  building  a  nest  in  a  small  sourwood  at  Lake  Toxaway,  May  8, 1908,  and  Bruner 
discovered  a  nest  in  a  chestnut  tree  at  Blowing  Rock  a  few  years  ago.  Cairns  also 
took  a  second  nest,  this  time  in  an  oak,  on  May  4,  1888.  Outside  of  the  mountains 
this  form  has  been  recorded  at  Statesville  (McLaughlin) ,  and  Morganton  (Wayne) , 
while  birds  that  are  at  least  as  near  this  form  as  the  preceding,  breed  at  Raleigh. 
As  to  its  time  of  nesting  in  the  central  portion  of  the  State,  we  took  a  nest  contain- 
ing four  fresh  eggs  at  Raleigh  on  April  27,  1891,  and  McLaughlin  found  one  at 
Statesville  on  June  11,  and  another  June  15,  1888.  The  nests  are  more  substantially 
built  than  those  of  other  vireos,  and  are  composed  of  coarse  grass  stems  and  strips 
of  bark  lined  with  fine  grass  and  ornamented  outside  with  sheep's  wool,  pellets  of 
spider's  web,  and  sometimes  with  lichens.  In  the  mountain  region  it  seems  to  range 
mainly  from  3,000  feet  upward,  which  does  not  well  conform  with  its  breeding  in 
the  low  pine  country  of  the  central  district. 

The  song  is  loud  and  musical,  very  similar  to  that  of  the  Yellow-throated  Vireo, 
but  more  shrill,  and  is  not  distinguishable  from  that  of  the  Blue-headed  Vireo. 


272  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 

Genus  Vireo  (Vieill.) 
271.  Vireo  griseus  griseus  (Bodd.).    WHITE-EYED  VIREO. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts,  including  upper  tail-coverts,  bright  olive-green,  more  or  less 
washed  with  grayish;  greater  and  middle  wing-coverts  tipped  with  yellowish  white,  forming 
two  distinct  wing-bars;  outer  web  of  tertials  edged  with  whitish;  lores  and  eye-ring  yellow;  throat 
white  or  whitish;  belly  white;  breast  and  sides  washed  with  greenish  yellow;  iris  white,  hazel 
in  the  young.  L.,  5.27;  W.,  2.37;  T.,  1.95;  B.  from  N.,  .29.  (Chap.,  Birds  ofE.  N.  A.) 

Range. — United  States,  east  of  Rocky  Mountains;  wintering  in  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  breeding  throughout  its  range. 


PIG.  219.     WHITE-EYED  VIREO. 

The  White-eyed  Vireo  is  a  common  bird  throughout  North  Carolina  in  the 
breeding  season,  arriving  near  the  end  of  March  or  during  the  first  week  in  April, 
except  in  the  mountains,  where  it  appears  a  week  or  two  later.  The  latest  date 
recorded  in  the  fall  is  October  16  at  Raleigh. 

Unlike  our  other  vireos,  this  is  a  bird  of  the  thickets  rather  than  the  woods. 
The  nest  is  of  the  regular  vireo  type,  and  is  usually  found  suspended  from  the  fork 
of  an  alder,  swamp  dogwood,  or  other  lowland  bush,  at  a  height  of  three  to  eight 
feet  from  the  ground.  The  outside  of  the  nest  is  usually  ornamented  with  green 
moss.  The  spots  on  the  eggs  are  more  or  less  evenly  distributed  over  the  entire 
surface.  Size  .75  x  .55.  At  Raleigh,  eggs  have  been  taken  from  late  April  until 
late  June. 

The  White-eyed  Vireo  is  a  fussy,  inquisitive  little  bird,  very  much  given  to  scold- 
ing any  intruder  upon  its  privacy.  The  song  is  a  very  distinctive  feature  of  the 
lowgrounds,  but  it  cannot  be  called  particularly  melodious.  Many  years  ago  the 
boys  around  Raleigh  used  to  say  that  in  singing  it  said,  "  Fishing-in-the-creek ; 
put-y  our-cork-a-little-deeper . " 

51.    FAMILY  MNIOTILTID>E.     WOOD  WARBLERS 

This  is  the  most  characteristic  North  American  family  of  birds,  none  of  the 
species  being  found  outside  of  the  Western  Hemisphere.  Most  of  them  are  con- 
fined to  the  eastern  portion  of  the  North  American  continent  during  the  breeding 
season.  While  a  few  species  pass  the  winter  in  the  United  States,  as  a  whole  they 
are  highly  migratory,  and  journey  in  autumn  to  the  West  Indies  or  South  and 
Central  America. 

They  are  all  small  birds,  the  Yellow-breasted  Chat  being  the  only  one  which 
could  be-called  of  medium  size,  and  the  majority  of  them  are  only  about  five  inches 
jn  length. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  273 


The  name  "Warbler"  comes  from  their  general  resemblance  to  the  warblers  of 
Europe,  whose  places  they  take  in  this  country,  and  not  from  any  especial  musical 
ability  of  their  own.  Although  many  of  them  sing  pleasingly,  the  songs  as  a  rule 
are  little  more  than  simple  trills. 

The  males  of  many  species  are  brightly  colored  and  beautifully  marked.  The 
sexes  are  often  quite  unlike  in  coloration,  and  the  variations  due  to  age  and  season 
are  also  striking. 

The  technical  points  which  distinguish  them  are  the  possession  of  nine  developed 
primaries ;  a  slender  bill  not  decidedly  hooked  at  tip ;  inner  secondaries  not  length- 
ened; hind  toe  not  long  nor  straight. 

The  genera  are  numerous,  and  all  those  found  in  North  America  are  represented 
in  North  Carolina. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Bill  depressed,  broader  than  deep  at  base,  notched  and  slightly  hooked,  with  strong  rictal 
bristles.     Length  5.50  or  less.     See  2. 

1.  Bill  not  depressed  or  hooked.     Rictal  bristles,  if  present,  short.     See  3. 

2.  Tail  blotched  with  yellow  or  orange  red.     Setophaga. 

2.  Tail  blotched  with  white  or  not  at  all.     Wilsonia. 

3.  Bill  stout,  much  compressed;  length  7  or  more.     Icteria. 

3.  Bill  rather  slender,  little  compressed;  length  less  than  6.50.     See  4. 

4.  Hind  toe  with  claw  very  long,  as  long  as  tarsus  in  front.     Color  black-and-white,  striped; 

no  yellow.  Mniotilta. 

4.  Hind  toe  with  claw  much  shorter  than  naked  portion  of  tarsus  in  front.     See  5. 

5.  Middle  toe  with  claw  not  shorter  than  tarsus.     No  wing-bars.     See  6. 

5.  Middle  toe  with  claw  decidedly  shorter  than  naked  portion  of  tarsus  in  front,  or  else  wing- 

bars  present.     See  8. 

6.  Tail-feathers  blotched  with  white.     Protonotaria. 

6.  Tail-feathers  unblotched.     See  7. 

7.  Bill  much  compressed;  top  of  head  plain  brown.     Helinaia. 

7.  Bill  slightly  compressed;  top  of  head  with  two  black  stripes,  separated  by  a  broader  one  of 

buff.     Helmitheros. 

8.  Gape  without  bristles;  bill  very  acute,  scarcely  notched.     Tail-feathers  plain  or  blotched 

with  white.     Vermivora. 

8.  Gape  with  bristles.     See  9. 

9.  Tail  blotched  with  white  or  with  the  inner  webs  bright  yellow.     See  10. 
9.  Tail  without  white  or  bright  yellow.     See  11. 

10.  Hind  toe  evidently  longer  than  its  claw;  bill  acute,  not  notched.     Compsothlypis. 

10.  Hind  toe  scarcely  longer  than  its  claw;  bill  mostly  not  very  acute,  and  with  a  slight  notch 

near  tip.     Dendroica. 

11.  Lower  parts  much  streaked.     Seiurus. 

11.  Lower  parts  not  streaked.     See  12. 

12.  Tail  not  shorter  than  wings,  its  feathers  not  half  hidden  by  the  coverts.     Geothlypis. 

12.  Tail  shorter  than  wing,  its  feathers  half  hidden  by  the  coverts;  at  least  posterior  underparts 
bright  yellow.     Oporornis. 

Genus  Mniotilta  (Vieill.) 

272.  Mniotilta  varia  (Linn.).     BLACK-AND-WHITE  WARBLER. 

Description. — Black  and  white,  streaked  everywhere.  Wing-bars  and  spots  on  inner  web  of 
two  outer  tail-feathers,  white.  Female  is  duller  and  more  grayish  with  less  black  streaking  below. 
Extreme  measurements  of  95  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  4.85-5.46;  W.,  2.46-2.90;  T.,  1.75-2.15. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America  in  summer,  wintering  in  the  Gulf  States  and  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  breeding  everywhere. 

The  Black- and- White  Warbler,  sometimes  called  the  Black-and- White  Creeper 
on  account  of  its  movements,  is  a  common  summer  visitor  in  all  portions 
of  our  State,  arriving  about  the  end  of  March  and  leaving  in  October.  Its  favorite 
haunts  are  mixed  woods,  particularly  where  there  are  sloping  hillsides,  in  which 

18 


274 


BIRDS  OF  jSToRTH  CAROLINA 


situations  it  builds  its  nest,  often  at  the  foot  of  some  small  tree,  or  by  the  side  of 
a  log.  It  is  constructed  of  leaves  and  grasses,  and  given  a  lining  of  finer  materials. 
The  eggs  are  four  or  five  in  number  and  are  deposited  in  April  or  May.  They  are 
white,  speckled  with  hazel  or  cinnamon  rufous,  and  often  also  with  lilac  or  lavender 
gray.  Size  .70  x  .52. 


FIG.  220.     BLACK-AND-WHITE  WARBLER. 


The  only  nest  C.  S.  Brimley  ever  found  at  Raleigh  was  on  a  sloping  hillside,  and 
was  tucked  in  under  the  pine  straw  at  the  base  of  two  small  pines  standing  close 
together.  The  same  observer  also  found  a  nest  at  Andrews,  which  was  on  almost 
level  ground  at  the  end  of  a  prostrate  log.  Pearson  discovered  a  nest  under  an 
exposed  root  on  a  wooded  hillside,  in  May,  1896,  at  Guilford  College.  It  contained 
three  newly  hatched  young. 

In  habits  this  species  resembles  a  nuthatch  rather  more  than  a  warbler,  as  it 
keeps  continually  running  up  and  down  the  trunks  or  along  the  limbs  of  trees  in  a 
manner  not  unlike  that  of  the  White-breasted  Nuthatch. 

Genus  Protonotaria  (Baird) 
273.  Protonotaria  citrea  (Bodd.).    PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER. 

Description. — Head,  neck,  and  underparts,  except  lower  tail-coverts,  rich  orange  yellow, 
lighter  on  the  belly;  back  olive-green;  wings  and  tail  bluish  gray;  lower  tail-coverts  white.  Female 
similar,  but  with  the  top  of  head  olive-green  instead  of  yellow.  Extreme  measurements  of  17 
specimens  from  Wake,  Bertie,  and  Craven  counties:  L.,  5.35^5.75;  W.,  2.60-3.00;  T.,  1.65-2.00. 

Range. — Mississippi  Valley  and  southeastern  States,  ranging  in  the  east  to  southern  Virginia. 
Winters  in  the  West  Indies,  Central  and  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Lower  Austral  region  of  State,  from  Raleigh  eastward,  in  summer. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  275 


The  Prothonotary  Warbler  is  a  common  summer  bird  in  our  eastern  swamps, 
arriving  from  the  south  about  the  middle  of  April  and  remaining  as  late  as  early 
September.  It  nests  in  holes  in  trees  or  stumps.  The  nest  lining  consists  of  fine 
grass,  moss,  and  other  materials,  forming  a  compact  mass  on  which  five  or  six  eggs 
are  laid.  These  are  white  with  spots  and  blotches  of  lavender,  reddish  brown, 
purple,  and  black,  the  markings  in  some  cases  being  so  extensive  as  almost  to  hide 
the  ground-color,  and  again  merely  forming  bold  but  scattered  markings.  Size 
.70  x  .52.  (For  further  information  as  to  its  nesting  habits,  see  Barnes  in  The 
Ornithologist  and  Oologist,  March,  1889.) 

In  this  State  we  have  but  few  records  of  nests  having  been  found.  One  was  found 
by  Pearson  on  May  12,  1898,  near  Cape  Hatteras.  It  contained  four  slightly  incu- 
bated eggs,  and  was  in  a  natural  cavity  of  a  living  holly  tree,  twelve  feet  from  the 
ground.  Another,  containing  young,  was  discovered  by  Philipp  and  Bowdish  on 
Great  Lake,  in  June,  1909. 

This  strikingly  beautiful  Warbler  is  essentially  a  lover  of  water,  being  abundant 
in  cypress  swamps  and  along  sluggish  streams. 

The  localities  from  which  it  has  been  recorded  in  the  State  are  Bertie  County; 
Raleigh  and  Wakefield  in  Wake  County;  White  Lake  in  Bladen  County;  the  Craven 
County  lakes;  Elizabeth  City,  Pasquotank  County;  Cape  Hatteras,  Dare  County; 
Beaufort,  Carteret  County;  Gatesville,  Gates  County;  Orton,  Brunswick  County; 
and  Jacksonville,  Onslow  County. 

Genus  Helinaia  (Aud.) 
274.  Helinaia  swainsoni  (Aud.).    SWAINSON'S  WARBLER. 

Description:  Ads. — Crown  cinnamon-brown;  a  whitish  line  over  the  eye;  back,  rump,  wings, 
and  tail  olive-grayish  brown  without  white;  underparts  soiled,  yellowish  white,  grayer  on  the 
sides.  L.,  5.00;  W.,  2.75;  T.,  1.90;  B.  from  N.,  .46.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  wintering  in  the  West  Indies. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Swamps  of  the  coastal  region. 


FIG.  221.     SWAINSON'S  WARBLER. 


This  is  a  plain-colored  warbler,  inhabiting  the  canebrakes  and  swamps  of  the 
Lower  Austral  Zone  in  the  United  States,  and  in  this  State  has  been  recorded 
from  Craven  County,  where  a  single  specimen  was  taken  on  April  13,  1885,  by 


276  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


H.  H.  Brimley.  In  the  same  county  individuals  were  heard  singing  in  the  woods 
between  Little  Lake  and  Lake  Ellis  in  May,  1907  and  1908,  by  C.  S.  Brimley. 
Bowdish  and  Philipp  in  June,  1909,  discovered  one  feeding  young  in  the  woods 
near  Great  Lake,  Craven  County.  J.  E.  Gould,  of  Berkeley,  Virginia,  writes  us 
that  he  found  a  nest  containing  four  slightly  incubated  eggs  near  Edenton,  N.  C., 
on  May  10,  1906.  He  also  saw  birds  in  the  same  region  in  1907. 

The  nest  is  large,  loose,  and  bulky,  and  is  placed  in  a  low  bush  or  bunch  of 
canes,  usually  but  a  few  feet  from  the  ground.  The  eggs  are  pure  white,  unmarked. 
Size  .75  x  .57. 

This  bird  is  shy,  preferring  swamps  or  damp  woods,  where  it  may  be  heard  utter- 
ing a  loud  song,  resembling  somewhat  that  of  the  Louisiana  Water-Thrush. 

Genus  Helmitheros  (Raf.) 
275.  Helmitheros  vermivorus  (GmeL).    WORM-EATING  WARBLER. 

Description:  Ads. — A  black  line  from  the  eye  to  the  nape,  and  two  on  the  crown  from  either 
nostril;  an  olive-buffy  line  over  each  eye,  and  a  third  through  the  center  of  the  crown;  back,  wings, 
and  tail  olive-green  without  white;  underparts  whitish  cream-buff,  whiter  on  the  throat  and  belly. 
L.,  5.51;  W.,  2.78;  T.,  2.05;  B.  from  N.,  .39.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  wintering  in  West  Indies  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Apparently  the  whole  State  in  summer,  but  not  common. 


FlG.  222.       WORM-EATING    WARBLER. 

This  neat,  plain  species  arrives  in  our  State  the  middle  or  latter  part  of  April, 
and  has  been  recorded  in  late  September.  While  chiefly  a  migrant,  it  has  been 
noted  occasionally  in  summer.  In  Bertie  County  it  has  been  found  breeding  on 
one  occasion.  In  the  mountains  it  seems  to  be  more  common  in  summer.  Cairns 
reported  it  as  a  rare  breeder  in  Buncombe  County.  Bruner  says  it  was  common 
in  June,  1909,  in  Alexander  County.  It  has  also  been  reported  as  a  migrant  in 
Cherokee  and  Orange  counties,  and  as  occasional  in  summer  and  frequently  not 
uncommon  during  the  migrations  in  Wake  County. 

The  nest  is  built  on  the  ground,  usually  on  a  sloping  hillside  in  mixed  woods, 
and  is  composed  of  dry  leaves  lined  with  finer  material.  The  eggs  are  four  in  num- 
ber, white  in  color,  heavily  speckled  with  chestnut,  chiefly  near  the  larger  end. 
Size  .65  x  .52. 

Like  the  Black  and  White  Warbler,  it  is  often  seen  running  about  on  the  trunks 
and  limbs  of  trees.  C.  S.  Brimley  speaks  of  having  seen  it  frequently  picking  some- 
thing, presumably  insects,  from  bunches  of  dead  leaves  hanging  from  the  branches. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  277 


Genus  Vermivora  (Ridgw.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Tail-feathers  with  distinct  white  blotches.     See  2. 

1.  None  of  the  tail-feathers  blotched  with  white.     See  6. 

2.  Wings  plain  olive-green.     Bachman's  Warbler. 

2.  Wings  with  greater  and  middle  coverts  tipped  more  or  less  broadly  with  white  or  yellow. 

See  3. 

3.  Throat  and  ear-coverts  black  in  male,  dusky  in  female. 

3.  Throat  pure  yellow  or  white  in  both  sexes. 

4.  Cheeks  and  lower  parts  white.     Golden-winged  Warbler. 

5.  Lower  parts  pure  yellow.     Blue-winged  Warbler. 

6.  Wing  an  inch  longer  than  the  short  tail.     Tennessee  Warbler. 

6.  Wing  only  half  an  inch  longer  than  tail.     See  7. 

7.  Head  olive-green  above,  no  orbital  ring.     Orange-crowned  Warbler. 
7.  Head  ashy  above,  a  pale  orbital  ring.     Nashville  Warbler. 

276.  Vermivora  bachmani  (And.}.    BACHMAN'S  WARBLER. 

Description. — Uniform  olive-green  above,  forehead  and  underparts  yellow.  Male  with  a 
black  band  across  front  of  crown,  and  a  large  black  patch  on  throat  and  breast,  surrounded  by 
yellow.  Female  similar,  but  with  no  black  on  crown,  and  with  that  of  breast  replaced  by  dusky 
olive.  Measurements  of  2  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  4.85—4.83;  W.,  2.45;  T.,  1.83,  the  last  two 
measurements  being  the  same  in  each  bird. 

Range. — South  Atlantic  States  and  Mississippi  Valley,  north  to  Missouri  and  Virginia. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  known  only  from  Raleigh. 


FIG.  223.     BACHMAN'S  WARBLER. 

Only  two  specimens  of  this  rare  species  have  been  found  in  North  Carolina. 
These  were  two  full-plumaged  males  taken  by  C.  S.  Brimley  at  Raleigh,  one  on 
April  27,  the  other  May  22,  1891,  both  being  in  song  at  the  time. 

The  first  nest  of  this  species  ever  discovered  was  taken  by  Otto  Widmann  (see 
Auk,  July,  1897)  in  Dunklin  County,  Missouri,  on  May  17,  1897.  It  was  in  a 
swamp,  and  was  situated  two  feet  from  the  ground  in  a  blackberry  vine.  It  was 
composed  of  leaves  and  grass  blades,  lined  with  a  peculiar  black  rootlet,  and  con- 
tained three  white,  unmarked  eggs,  two  of  which  measured  .63  and  .64  in  length 
by  .48  and  .49  in  width.  The  Bachman's  Warbler  has  since  been  found  breeding 
near  Charleston,  S.  C.,  by  Wayne,  and  the  bird  doubtless  breeds  more  or  less  com- 
monly all  through  the  Lower  Austral  Zone  in  the  southeatern  States.  It  is  a  low- 
ground  loving  species,  and  should  be  looked  for  in  the  swamps  of  our  eastern  sec- 
tion. 


278  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


277.  Vermivora  pinus  (Linn.).    BLUE- WINGED  WARBLER. 

Description:  Ad.  male. — Crown  and  entire  underparts  bright  yellow,  a  black  line  through  the 
eye;  back  and  rump  bright  olive-green;  wings  and  tail  bluish  gray;  greater  and  middle  wing- 
coverts  tipped  with  white  or  yellowish  white;  outer  three  tail-feathers  with  large  white  patches 
on  their  inner  webs,  fourth  feather  with  a  much  smaller  patch.  Ad.  female. — Similar,  but  yellow 
on  the  head  confined  to  the  forehead;  underparts  duller.  L.,  4.80;  W.,  2.40;  T.,  1.80;  B.  from 
N.,  .33.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States  in  summer,  but  mainly  west  of  the  Alleghanies,  except  north 
of  latitude  40°.  Winters  in  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  known  as  a  rare  transient  at  Raleigh  and  a  rare  summer 
visitor  in  Buncombe  County. 


Fict.  224.     BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER. 

The  Blue-winged  Warbler  appears  to  be  partial  to  upland  woods,  in  or  near 
which  it  builds  its  nest  on  the  ground  or  only  a  few  inches  above  it.  The  eggs  are 
four  or  five  in  number,  and  are  white  in  ground-color,  speckled  faintly  and  spar- 
ingly with  brown.  Size  .65  x  .51. 

We  have  very  few  records  of  this  species  in  the  State,  and  outside  of  Raleigh 
it  has  been  recorded  only  from  Buncombe  County,  where  Cairns  called  it  an  un- 
common summer  visitor,  adding  that  it  bred  in  that  region;  Pearson  found  two 
males  at  Montreat,  Buncombe  County,  in  July,  1903.  At  Raleigh  it  has  been  taken 
on  May  6,  1907,  and  April  30,  1915,  in  spring,  and  on  various  dates  from  August 
20  to  September  4  in  the  fall,  having  been  taken  by  H.  H.  and  C.  S.  Brimley  and 
Bruner.  Only  two  of  the  specimens  secured  were  females,  and  these  had  the  wing- 
bars  tinged  with  yellow,  and  not  pure  white.  All  the  Raleigh  specimens  were  found 
in  woods  of  mixed  pine  and  oak. 

278.  Vermivora  chrysoptera  (Linn.).    GOLDEN-WINGED  WARBLER. 

Description. — Ashy  gray  above;  forehead,  crown,  and  wing-patch  bright  yellow;  throat  and 
loral  stripe  and  ear-coverts,  black  in  adult  males,  deep  gray  or  dusky  olive  in  females.  Cheeks, 
above  and  below  the  black,  and  lower  parts,  white.  L.,  5.10;  W.,  2.45;  T.,  1.95. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  North  Carolina  (in  the  mountains)  north- 
ward. Wintering  in  West  Indies,  Mexico,  etc. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  known  as  a  transient  at  Raleigh  and  a  summer  visitor  in  the 
mountains. 

The  Golden-winged  Warbler,  easily  known  from  our  other  species  by  the  black 
throat,  ashy  upperparts,  and  yellow  wing-patch,  has  been  taken  at  Raleigh  only  on 
May  7  in  1889,  the  same  date,  1891,  and  on  August  26,  1886,  and  August  30,  1893. 
In  the  mountains,  however,  it  appears  to  be  more  common,  arriving  apparently 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  279 


late  in  April,  as  a  rule,  though  we  have  it  recorded  one  year  from  Weaverville  as 
early  as  April  9.  It  has  also  been  reported  from  Jackson  and  Macon  counties,  by 
Brewster,  as  being  common  in  1885  at  from  2,000  to  4,000  feet  elevation,  and  from 
Andrews,  in  Cherokee  County,  by  Mrs.  Wilson.  Cairns  states  that  in  Buncombe 
County  it  is  found  in  summer  from  3,500  feet  elevation  upward,  and  that  it  breeds 
in  June.  The  nest  is  built  on  the  ground  under  a  small  bush  or  tussock.  The  eggs 
are  usually  four,  pure  white,  sparsely  speckled  with  brown. 


FIG.  225.     GOLDEN-WINGED  WARBLER. 


Besides  the  above  records,  Sherman  saw  a  single  male  at  Blantyre,  Transylvania 
County,  early  in  May,  1908,  and  another,  near  Highlands,  a  few  days  later. 

A  single  specimen  of  the  so-called  Brewster's  Warbler,  Vermivora  leucobronchialis  (Brewst.), 
was  taken  at  Raleigh  by  H.  H.  Brimley  on  September  6,  1888,  and  was  identified  by  Brewster. 
The  color  was  a  mixed  greenish  and  bluish  above,  the  rump,  however,  being  without  any  bluish 
tint;  the  loral  strip  was  black,  and  there  were  black  traces  on  the  auriculars;  underparts  mostly 
white  except  the  forepart  of  the  breast,  which  was  mostly  yellow;  throat  and  neck  below  white, 
chin  yellow.  Crown,  forehead,  and  wing-bars  bright  yellow. 

This  form,  which  is  not  infrequently  found  in  the  Connecticut  Valley  in  summer,  and  less 
often  in  other  portions  of  the  Eastern  States,  is  now  considered  by  many  ornithologists  to  be  a 
hybrid  between  the  Golden-winged  and  Blue-winged  Warblers,  or  possibly  a  color-phase  of  the 
Blue-winged  Warbler. 

Besides  this  form,  which  may  be  considered  as  a  Golden-winged  Warbler  that  has  lost  its 
black  throat  and  ear-patches  and  acquired  a  little  more  yellow  in  its  plumage,  or  as  a  Blue-winged 
Warbler  with  the  olive-green  of  the  upperparts  turned  to  ashy  and  the  yellow  of  the  underparts 
turned  to  white,  another  extraordinary  variety  is  also  considered  to  be  a  hybrid  between  the  same 
two  species.  This  is  Lawrence's  Warbler,  Vermivora  lawrencei  (Herrick),  which  is  colored  like  a 
Blue-winged  Warbler  above  and  below,  but  possesses  a  black  throat  and  ear-patch  like  the  Golden- 
winged  Warbler,  and  the  wing-bars  are  said  to  be  usually  white.  It  is  a  very  much  rarer  bird 
than  the  Brewster's  Warbler,  and  much  more  constant  in  its  characters.  It  has  not,  to  our 
knowledge,  been  observed  in  North  Carolina. 

279.  Vermivora  rubricapilla  rubricapilla  (Wils.').    NASHVILLE  WARBLER. 

Description. — Olive-green,  ashy  on  head  and  neck,  the  color  contrasting  with  that  of  back; 
crown-patch  bright  chestnut,  more  or  less  concealed;  underparts  bright  yellow.  Lores  and 
orbital  ring  pale.  Female  duller,  with  crown-patch  obscure.  L.,  4.77;  W.,  2.35;  T.,  1.82. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  in  northern  United  States  and  northward,  wintering 
in  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Recorded  by  Cairns  as  a  rare  transient  in  Buncombe  County. 


280  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


So  far,  the  only  authority  on  which  this  bird  can  be  included  in  our  list  is  Cairns, 
who  stated  that  the  species  was  a  rare  transient  in  Buncombe  County  (see  Smith- 
wick's  Catalogue  of  Birds  of  North  Carolina,  page  217). 

"Wilson,  the  discoverer  of  this  species,  found  only  the  three  specimens,  taken  near  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  on  which  his  description  was  based;  and  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century  it  was 
considered  a  rare  bird.  Brewster,  quoting  Samuel  Cabot,  says  that  soon  after  1836  'a  few  birds 
began  to  appear  every  season.  They  increased  in  numbers,  gradually  but  steadily,  until  they 
had  become  so  common  that  in  1842  he  obtained  ten  specimens  in  the  course  of  a  single  morning.' 

"Recounting  his  own  experience  in  the  Cambridge  region,  Brewster  adds:  'In  1868,  and  for 
some  fifteen  years  later,  I  found  Nashville  Warblers  breeding  rather  numerously  in  Waltham, 
Lexington,  Arlington,  and  Belmont,  usually  in  dry  and  somewhat  barren  tracts  sparsely  covered 
with  gray  birches,  oaks,  or  red  cedars,  or  with  scattered  pitch-pines.  A  few  birds  continued  to 
occupy  certain  of  these  stations,  but  in  all  of  the  towns  just  mentioned  the  Nashville  Warbler  is 
less  common  and  decidedly  less  generally  distributed  in  summer  now  than  it  was  twenty-five 
or  thirty  years  ago.' 

"Gerald  Thayer  writes:  'Birch  Warbler'  would  be  a  good  name  for  this  bird,  as  it  appears  in 
the  Monadnock  region,  where  it  breeds  abundantly.  For  here  it  is  nowhere  so  common  as  in 
abandoned  fields  and  mountain  pastures  half  smothered  by  small  gray  birches.  From  the  airy 
upper  story  of  these  low  and  often  dense  birch  copses  the  Nashvilles  sing;  and  among  the  club- 
mosses  and  ferns,  and  the  hardhacks  and  other  srcubby  bushes  at  their  bases  and  around  their 
borders  the  Nashvilles  build  their  nests.  But  such  is  merely  their  most  characteristic  home. 
They  are  so  common  and  widespread  that  it  is  hard  to  get  out  of  earshot  of  their  song  during  the 
breeding  season.  Dark  spruce  woods  they  do  not  favor,  nor  big,  mixed  virgin  timber;  but  even 
in  these  places  one  is  likely  to  find  them  wherever  there  is  a  little  'oasis'  of  sunlight  and  smaller 
deciduous  growth.  They  are  fairly  common  among  the  scanty  spruces,  mountain  ashes,  and 
white  birches  of  the  rocky  upper  ridge  of  Mount  Monadnock,  almost  to  the  top — 3,169  feet. 

"  'The  Nashville's  proper  domain  or  "beat,"  during  the  breeding  season,  lies  between  the 
ground  and  the  tops  of  the  lower  trees — mainly  deciduous  trees.  He  is  a  little,  active,  foliage- 
•colored  Warbler,  unshowily  yellow-breasted,  inconspicuously  gray-headed  (except  for  a  yellow 
throat,  and  a  rufous  crown-spot  which  scarcely  shows  at  all),  with  a  dim  white  eye-ring,  but 
without  white  tail-spots,  wing-bars,  or  any  other  bold  markings.  In  demeanor  it  is  one  of  the 
most  nervously  agile  and  restless  of  the  gleaning  warblers.'  (THAYER,  MSS.)."  (Chapman's 
Warblers  of  North  America.) 

280.  Vermivora  celata  celata  (Say}.    ORANGE-CROWNED  WARBLER. 

Description. — Olive-green,  never  ashy  on  head;  crown-patch  orange  brown,  more  or  less  con- 
cealed; underparts  greenish  yellow.  L.,  5.00;  W.,  2.55;  T.,  1.95. 

Range. — Northern  North  America,  casually  on  the  Atlantic  coast  during  the  migrations. 
Winters  in  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States  and  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Only  known  as  an  occasional  fall  migrant  and  winter  visitor  in 
Buncombe  and  Currituck  counties. 


FIG.  226.     ORANGE-CROWNED  WARBLER. 


Taken  by  Cairns  on  October  18,  1893  (male),  and  on  January  15,  1894  (female). 
Both  of  these  records  were  furnished  us  by  Brewster,  in  whose  collection  the  speci- 
mens are  now  preserved.  One  was  collected  by  Ludlow  Griscom  at  Pamunkey 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  281 


Island,  Currituck  County,  on  January  3,  1915.    The  specimen  is  in  the  American 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  New  York  City. 

Ludlow  Griscom  writes  further  regarding  this  species:  "One  seen  very  satis- 
factorily by  J.  M.  Johnson  and  L.  G.,  December  31,  1916,  on  Pamunkey  Island 
(Currituck  Sound).  L.  G.  well  acquainted  with  this  bird  in  several  States." 

281.  Vermivora  peregrina  (Wils.).    TENNESSEE  WARBLER. 

Description. — Olive-green  above,  head  more  or  less  ashy  and  without  crown-patch;  under- 
parts  white  or  slightly  yellowish.  Known  from  the  two  preceding  species  by  the  comparatively 
long  wings  and  short  tail.  Extreme  measurements  of  12  specimens  from  Raleigh  and  Weaverville : 
L.,  4.65-4.85;  W.,  2.45-2.65;  T.,  1.65-1.75. 

Range. — Breeds  in  northern  North  America,  mainly  north  of  the  United  States;  migrates 
chiefly  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  winters  in  Mexico  and  in  Central  and  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — A  transient  in  fall  only;  so  far,  recorded  from  Wake  and  Buncombe 
counties. 

The  Tennessee  Warbler  is  one  of  those  birds  which  pass  through  our  State  in 
fall  on  their  way  south  from  their  summer  homes,  but  appear  not  to  visit  us  on 
their  return  trip  in  spring. 

It  has  been  taken  in  Wake  County,  near  Raleigh,  only  four  times,  but  in  Bun- 
combe County  Cairns  considered  it  tolerably  common  at  that  season.  The  dates 
for  the  two  counties  are  about  the  same,  the  earliest  one  being  September  10  and 
the  latest  October  29. 

This  is  about  the  dullest  colored  and  most  inconspicuous  of  the  warblers. 

Genus  Compsothlypis  (Cab.) 

282.  Compsothlypis  americana  americana  (Linn.).    PARULA  WARBLER. 

Description. — Clear  ashy  blue;  back  with  a  large  golden-green  patch.  Underparts,  except 
belly  (which  is  white),  mostly  yellow;  a  brown  band  across  breast;  wing-bars  white.  Female 
smaller  and  duller  than  the  male.  Autumnal  birds  with  the  upperparts  mainly  olive-green, 
and  the  brown  bar  on  breast  almost  or  quite  absent.  Extreme  measurements  of  130  Raleigh 
specimens:  L.,  4.25-4.85;  W.,  2.15-2.50;  T.,  1.50-1.85. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America  in  summer,  breeding  throughout  its  range,  wintering  in 
southern  Florida,  the  West  Indies,  Mexico,  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Common  summer  visitor  throughout  the  State. 

The  Parula  Warbler,  formerly  called  the  "Blue  Yellow-backed  Warbler,"  arrives 
in  our  State  early  in  April  and  has  been  noted  as  late  as  October  27.  It  appears  to 
be  more  plentiful  during  the  migrations,  particularly  in  fall,  when  it  is  often  the 
most  abundant  of  all  the  birds  in  the  woods. 

The  nest  is  frequently  built  in  a  bunch  of  the  hanging  gray  lichen  ( Usnea) ,  and 
is  made  by  weaving  the  fibers  of  the  plant  together,  but  little  building  material 
being  brought  from  outside.  The  entrance  is  on  the  side,  and  the  nests  are  usually 
in  trees  standing  near  water,  as  it  is  in  such  a  situation  that  the  Usnea  is  gener- 
ally found  growing.  Occasionally  the  nest  is  built  in  a  bunch  of  the  hanging  or 
Spanish  moss  (Tillandsia  usneoides),  as  was  the  case  with  one  found  under  con- 
struction on  the  edge  of  Great  Lake,  in  Craven  County,  by  H.  H.  Brimley,  in  late 
May,  1908,  and  another  found  at  Lake  Ellis  by  Pearson  in  June,  1903.  Two  sets 
of  eggs  were  taken  by  Smithwick  in  Bertie  County  in  late  April,  1896,  and  mid- 


282 


June,  1897,  both  from  nests  hidden  in  bunches  of  Usnea  at  heights  of  five  and  ten 
feet  respectively.  Both  nests  were  lined  with  feathers  and  hair.  A  nest  was  taken 
by  McLaughlin  in  Iredell  County  on  May  11,  1887,  and  Cairns  reported  the  species 
breeding  in  Buncombe  County  in  May  and  June,  the  nests  averaging  about  twenty- 
five  feet  from  the  ground. 


FIG.  227.     PARULA  WARBLER. 

The  eggs  number  three  to  five,  pure  white,  and  are  speckled  around  the  larger 
end  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac.  Size  .65  x  .48. 

This  species  is  one  of  the  smallest  and  most  dainty  of  our  warblers,  and  in  sum- 
mer is  a  familiar  feature  of  our  damp  lowland  woods.  In  August  and  September 
it  is  to  be  seen  migrating  in  great  numbers  in  upland  woods. 

283.  Compsothlypis  americana  usnese  (Brewst.).  NORTHERN  PARULA 
WARBLER. 

Description. — Similar  to  preceding,  the  chest  darker  and  more  conspicuously  marked;  the  bill 
averaging  somewhat  shorter. 

Range. — This  is  the  Northern  and  Mississippi  Valley  form  of  the  species. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  known  from  Raleigh,  as  a  spring  migrant. 

Years  ago  C.  S.  Brimley  took  a  single  spring  specimen  of  this  form  of  the  Parula 
Warbler  at  Raleigh.  The  heavy  markings  on  the  breast  were  very  pronounced. 

Genus  Dendroica  (Gray) 

This,  the  largest  and  most  important  genus  of  the  warblers,  contains  nineteen 
species  and  subspecies  that  are  found  in  the  eastern  United  States.  All  but  one 
of  these  are  known  to  occur  in  North  Carolina. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Tail-feathers  edged  with  yellow;  plumage  chiefly  yellow.     Yellow  Warbler. 

1.  Tail-feathers,  at  least  the  outer  ones,  blotched  with  white.     See  2. 

2.  A  white  blotch  on  the  primaries  at  their  bases;  no  wing-bars.     See  3. 

2.  No  white  blotch  on  the  primaries.     See  4. 

3.  Male  with  considerable  black  on  upperparts.     Cairn's  Warbler. 

3.  Male  with  little  or  no  black  on  upperparts.     Black-throated  Blue  Warbler. 

4.  Wing-bars  not  white.     See  5. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  283 


4.  Wing-bars  white.     See  9. 

5.  Back  ashy;  whole  underparts  yellow.     Kirtland's  Warbler. 

5.  Back  not  ashy.     See  6. 

6.  Underparts  white;  crown  and  wing-patch  more  or  less  yellow.     Chestnut-sided  Warbler. 

6.  Underparts  more  or  less  yellow.     See  7. 

7.  Wing-bars  and  belly  yellow.     Prairie  Warbler. 

7.  Wing-bars  brownish;  tail-spots  square,  at  end  of  two  outer  tail-feathers  only.     See  8. 

8.  Adults  with  entire  lower  parts  bright  yellow.     Yellow  Palm  Warbler. 

8.  Adults  with  belly  mainly  whitish.     Palm  Warbler. 

9.  Rump  yellow.     See  10. 

9.  Rump  not  yellow.     See  11. 

10.  Crown,  rump,  and  sides  of  breast  with  yellow;  throat  white.     Myrtle  Warbler. 
10.  Crown  black  with  a  median  stripe  of  orange-brown;  an  orange-brown  ear-spot;  bill  acute, 
perceptibly  decurved.     Cape  May  Warbler. 

10.  Crown  ashy;  underparts  yellow  with  black  streaks;  spots  at  the  middle  of  nearly  all  the  tail- 

feathers.     Magnolia  Warbler. 

11.  Crown  with  orange  or  yellow  spot;  throat  orange  or  yellow.     Blackburnian  Warbler. 

11.  Crown  with  no  orange  or  yellow.     See  12. 

12.  White  spots  at  the  ends  of  nearly  all  the  tail-feathers;  no  definite  yellow  anywhere.    Cerulean 

Warbler. 

12.  Spots  not  at  the  end  of  nearly  all  the  tail-feathers.     See  13. 

13.  Throat  black,  sometimes  obscured  by  yellow  tips  to  feathers;  outer  tail-feather  white-edged 

externally.     Black-throated  Green  Warbler. 

13.  Throat  not  black.     See  14. 

14.  With  no  definite  yellow  anywhere.     See  15. 

14.  With  some  yellow.     See  16. 

15.  Crown  and  throat  chestnut  in  spring  male;  crissum  buffy.     Bay-breasted  Warbler. 

15.  Crown  black  in  spring  male;  crissum  white.     Black-poll  Warbler. 

16.  Back  and  cheeks  yellowish  olive;  tail-spots  oblique,  at  end  of  two  outer  tail-feathers  only. 

Pine  Warbler. 

16.  Back  ashy  blue;  cheeks  black.     See  17. 

17.  Superciliary  line  yellow  in  front;  bill  longer  than  middle  toe.     Yellow-throated  Warbler. 
17.  Superciliary  line  wholly  white;  bill  not  longer  than  middle  toe.     Sycamore  Warbler. 

The  above  key  should  enable  the  careful  student  to  identify  most  specimens  that  come  into 
his  hands  without  great  difficulty.  It  must  always  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that  females 
and  autumnal  birds  as  a  rule  are  much  more  difficult  to  identify  than  spring  males.  The  sexes 
in  some  species  are  very  dissimilar;  in  the  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler,  for  instance,  the  only 
point  common  to  both  sexes  is  the  white  blotch  on  the  bases  of  the  primary  quills.  In  others, 
however,  the  sexes  are  substantially  alike,  as  is  the  case  with  the  Prairie  and  Yellow-throated 
Warblers.  In  the  majority  of  the  species,  however,  the  sexes  are  decidedly  different,  and  in 
many  the  fall  plumage  differs  strikingly  from  that  worn  in  the  spring,  in  which  case  it  usually 
is  more  or  less  like  the  spring  plumage  of  the  female,  but  often  softer  and  duller. 

284.  Dendroica  tigrina  (Gmel.}.    CAPE  MAY  WARBLER. 

Description. — Olivaceous  above,  with  black  streaks;  rump  and  sides  of  neck  bright  yellow; 
underparts  yellow,  much  streaked  with  black;  crown  mostly  black;  ear-coverts  orange  brown;  a 
white  wing-patch.  Female  duller,  with  no  black  or  reddish  on  the  head.  Extreme  measure- 
ments of  3  specimens  from  Blantyre  and  2  from  Raleigh:  L.,  4.85-5.25;  W.,  2.40-2.65;  T.,  1.63- 
1.95. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  northern  United  States  northward;  winters 
in  the  West  Indies. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — A  transient  in  the  mountain  regions  and  to  some  extent  in  the 
central  portions  of  the  State. 

The  Cape  May  Warbler  has  so  far  been  recorded  in  our  State  from  Asheville 
and  Weaverville  in  Buncombe  County;  Hendersonville  in  Henderson  County;  Blan- 
tyre in  Transylvania  County;  Andrews  in  Cherokee  County;  Morganton  in  Burke 
County,  and  from  Raleigh.  At  the  last  place  it  has  been  taken  on  April  7  and 
May  9,  1892,  by  C.  S.  Brimley,  and  in  early  May,  1909,  and  late  April  and  early 
May,  1915,  by  Bruner,  while  in  the  various  mountain  localities  the  dates  run  from 
April  22  to  May  15.  Feild  reports  it  tolerably  common  at  Chapel  Hill,  April  26- 
May  3,  1909.  The  only  fall  record  comes  from  Weaverville,  where  Cairns  observed 


284  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


it  on  September  15  and  17,  1894.  The  only  place  from  which  it  has  been  reported 
as  common  is  Morganton,  where  Wayne  reported  it  to  be  migrating  in  numbers 
from  April  22  to  May  15,  1909. 


FIG.  228.     CAPE  MAY  WARBLER. 

An  adult  male  was  secured  at  Raleigh  on  November  1,  1911,  and  an  immature 
bird  was  sent  to  Sherman  from  Cleelum,  near  Asheville,  accompanied  by  a  letter, 
dated  September  25,  1911,  from  which  the  following  extracts  are  taken: 

I  had  a  fine  lot  of  grapes,  but  the  birds  have  destroyed  the  most  of  them  before  we  could  gather 
them.  The  birds  destroyed  at  least  $75  worth  for  me,  and  messed  them  up  so  badly  they  were 
not  worth  gathering.  It  is  a  small  bird,  evidently  of  the  warbler  family,  dull  yellowish  gray 
above,  a  lighter  yellowish  gray  below,  with  breast  streaked  with  both  colors.  It  has  a  beak  like  a 
needle.  It  does  not  eat  the  grapes,  but  simply  pricks  holes  in  them  and  lets  them  ferment  for 
the  bees  to  get  drunk  on  next  day.  I  have  seen  many  berries  with  two  holes  punched  into  them 
about  1-16  inch  apart  as  though  it  had  not  even  closed  its  beak  in  pricking  them.  Could  it  suck 
the  juice  of  the  grape  without  closing  its  beak?  Please  tell  me  how  to  stop  these  birds  next 
season.  I  have  turned  things  over  to  them  this  year.  There  are  thousands  of  them,  evidently 
migrating,  but  they  will  not  bunch  so  that  one  can  shoot  them,  and  they  will  not  scare  off  any 
more  than  bees.  They  are  too  small  to  shoot  singly.  They  do  not  seem  to  eat  any  grain  or  meal, 
only  destroy  grapes  and  eat  a  few  moths.  I  will  try  to  get  a  few  and  send  one  with  this  letter. 

E.  V.  HARBECK,  M.D. 

Mr.  Frank  L.  Burns,  of  Berwyn,  Pa.,  writing  in  The  Auk  of  April,  1915,  describes 
in  detail  the  great  amount  of  damage  done  to  the  grape  crop  in  that  region  in  Sep- 
tember, 1913  and  1914,  by  Cape  May  Warblers.  Speaking  of  this  damage  in  his 
immediate  neighborhood,  he  says:  "So  far  as  I  am  able  to  learn,  all  unbagged 
grapes  were  ruined;  the  loss  must  have  been  many  tons,  worth  several  hundred 
dollars." 

285.  Dendroica  sestiva  sestiva  (Gmel.).  YELLOW  WARBLER:  SUMMER  YEL- 
LOW-BIRD. 

Description:  Ad.  male. — Upperparts  bright  greenish  yellow,  brighter  on  the  crown;  wings 
edged  with  yellow;  tail  fuscous,  the  inner  vanes  of  the  feathers  yellow;  underparts  bright  yellow, 
streaked  with  rufous.  Ad.  female. — Upperparts  uniform  yellowish  olive-green;  tail  as  in  the 
male;  wings  fuscous,  edged  with  yellow;  underparts  bright  yellow,  slightly,  if  at  all,  streaked  with 
rufous  on  the  breast  and  sides.  Im.  male. — Similar  to  the  female.  Im.  female. — Upperparts 
light  olive-green;  tail  fuscous,  the  inner  margins  of  the  inner  vanes  of  the  tail-feathers  yellow; 
underparts  uniform  dusky  yellowish.  L.,  5.10;  W.,  2.40;  T.,  1.89;  B.  from  N.,  .33. 

Remarks. — In  any  plumage  this  bird  may  be  known  by  the  yellow  on  the  inner  vanes  of  the 
tail-feathers.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  wintering  in  Mexico,  Central 
and  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Summer  visitor  in  the  central  and  western  districts,  but  apparently 
only  a  transient  in  the  east. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  285 


The  Yellow  Warbler  is  a  common  summer  visitor  from  Raleigh  westward  to  the 
mountains,  where  it  breeds  up  to  3,500  feet  elevation.  At  Raleigh  it  arrives  from 
the  south  about  the  middle  of  April,  and  the  breeding  birds  apparently  leave  in 
July  and  August,  though  an  occasional  specimen,  probably  a  migrant  from  farther 
north,  is  sometimes  observed  later.  These  dates  seem  also  to  apply  to  the  rest  of 
its  breeding  range  in  the  State.  At  Raleigh  there  is  a  distinct  migration  of  birds 
that  nest  farther  north.  These  pass  through  during  the  first  half  of  May,  and  curi- 
ously enough  are  not  found  in  the  same  situations  as  those  that  breed  here.  Thus, 
while  the  summer  residents  appear  in  mid- April  in  upland  groves  and  in  the  shade- 
trees  along  our  village  streets,  the  migrants  are  only  found  in  the  lowlands,  and  do 
not  come  until  two  or  three  weeks  later. 

The  species  seems  to  breed  entirely  in  orchards,  shade  trees,  and  upland  groves, 
apparently  rarely  nesting  in  what  might  be  called  natural  forest  conditions.  The 
nest  is  built  as  a  rule  in  some  small  tree,  at  a  height  of  from  seven  to  twelve  feet, 
and  is  a  warm,  compact  structure,  into  the  composition  of  which  cotton  often  enters. 
Frequently  it  is  lined  with  horsehair.  The  eggs  are  laid  in  May  or  June,  and  are 
usually  five  in  number,  of  a  greenish  white  ground  color,  spotted  around  the  larger 
end  with  brown,  black,  and  lilac-gray.  Size  .65  x  .50.  Pearson  has  found  these 
familiar  warblers  nesting  commonly  in  climbing  rosebushes  in  Guilford  County. 

286.  Dendroica  cserulescens  cserulescens  (GmeL).     BLACK-THROATED  BLUE 
WARBLER. 

Description. — Male  rich  gray  blue,  with  or  without  a  few  black  streaks  on  back;  throat,  sides 
of  head,  and  neck,  and  sides  of  body,  black;  otherwise  pure  white  below.  Female  dull  olive- 
greenish,  obscurely  marked,  known  by  the  white  patch  at  base  of  primaries,  which  is,  however 
much  smaller  than  in  the  male.  Extreme  measurements  of  71  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  4.90- 
5.30;  W.,  2.32-2.80;  T.,  1.85-2.20. 

Range. — North  America,  from  the  Mississippi  Valley  eastward,  breeding  in  northern  New 
England  and  northward,  and  wintering  in  the  West  Indies. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  during  the  migrations. 

The  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler  is  a  common  spring  and  fall  transient  in  all 
parts  of  the  State,  appearing  in  spring  from  late  in  April  until  the  middle  of  May. 
Returning,  it  is  with  us  from  late  September  to  the  end  of  October.  It  frequents 
the  thick  undergrowth  in  woods,  rarely  being  seen  in  high  trees. 

287.  Dendroica  cserulescens  cairnsi  (Cones).    CAIRNS'S  WARBLER. 

Description. — Similar  to  the  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler,  but  darker;  the  adult  male  darker 
above,  the  middle  of  the  back  with  much  black.  The  female  is  almost  indistinguishable  from 
that  of  the  preceding. 

Range. — Breeds  in  the  southern  Alleghanies;  winters  in  the  West  Indies. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Breeds  in  the  greater  part  of  the  mountain  region  from  3,500  feet  up. 

Cairns's  Warbler  arrives  in  the  mountains  a  little  earlier  than  the  Black-throated 
Blue  Warbler  comes  to  the  central  portion  of  the  State,  but  judging  from  Cairns's 
records  at  Weaverville  it  leaves  the  State  about  the  same  time. 

It  passes  the  summer  on  the  higher  mountains,  and  was  found  by  Brewster  in 
1885  invariably  in  or  near  extensive  tracts  of  rhododendron,  occupying  the  Cana- 
dian Zone  and  part  of  the  Alleghanian  Zone.  Cairns  states  that  he  found  it  com- 


286  BIRDS  or  NORTH  CAROLINA 


mon  on  Black  Mountain  in  summer  as  low  down  as  3,000  feet,  and  that  it  breeds 
in  May,  but  adds  he  had  never  found  it  on  Craggy  Mountain.  Bruner  found  it 
the  most  abundant  warbler  at  Blowing  Rock  in  the  summers  of  1905,  1906,  and 
1907.  Rhoads  recorded  it  as  common  on  Roan  Mountain  from  3,500  to  4,500  feet 
in  June,  1895.  Both  Mrs.  Wilson  and  Collett  say  that  it  breeds  on  the  mountains 
near  Andrews,  in  Cherokee  County. 

In  May,  1908,  C.  S.  Brimley  collected  a  few  specimens  of  the  Black-throated 
Blue  Warbler  in  the  mountains,  which  deserve  notice  in  this  connection.  They  con- 
sisted of  a  male  taken  at  Blantyre,  evidently  a  transient,  from  the  undeveloped 
condition  of  the  sexual  organs;  two  males  taken  at  Highlands,  one  of  which,  judging 
from  the  condition  of  the  testes,  was  a  transient,  and  the  other  a  breeding  bird,  all 
three  being  typical  Black-throated  Blue  Warblers  without  any  black  on  the  back. 
Beside  these,  he  secured  two  on  Joanna  Bald  Mountain,  near  Andrews,  which 
appeared  to  be  breeding  birds,  but  while  one  has  considerable  black  streaking  on 
the  back,  the  other  has  scarcely  any.  Bruner  took  a  migrant  at  Raleigh,  on  April 
27,  1908,  which  had  as  much  black  on  the  back  as  the  most  heavily  marked  of  the 
above,  and  this  probably  should  be  considered  a  Cairns's  Warbler. 

Two  breeding  males  collected  by  Bruner  and  Feild  near  Blowing  Rock  in  late 
June,  1911,  showed  marked  differences  of  plumage.  One  was- very  heavily  marked 
with  black  on  the  back;  the  other  had  no  trace  of  black  markings  and  was  duller 
colored  in  every  way.  In  the  summer  of  1911  they  found  this  species  present  on 
Grandfather  Mountain,  where  a  nest  with  three  eggs  was  found  on  June  22.  On 
Roan  Mountain  birds  were  seen  feeding  young  on  July  9.  This  was  at  Harvard, 
Yancey  County,  at  an  elevation  of  only  3,000  feet. 

From  the  data  available  we  are  led  to  believe  that  Cairns's  Warbler  is  simply 
the  extreme  plumage  of  the  breeding  males  of  our  mountains,  and  that  others  of 
the  breeding  males  are  indistinguishable  from  typical  Black-throated  Blue  War- 
blers. 

Ladd,  in  the  Ornithologist  and  Oologist  for  September,  1892,  gives  an  interesting 
account  of  the  breeding  of  these  birds  on  Craggy  Mountain,  which  he  visited  in  com- 
pany with  Cairns.  Nests  were  found  by  him  at  elevations  of  from  4,000  to  6,000 
feet,  many  being  examined  from  May  5  to  26.  They  were  mostly  built  in  a  weed 
known  as  the  rattle-weed  (Caulophylum  thalictroides) ,  but  one  was  among  rhodo- 
dendron shoots.  They  were  composed  externally  of  strips  of  rhododendron  or 
grapevine  bark,  interwoven  with  pieces  of  birch  bark,  moss,  and  spider-webs,  and 
were  lined  with  fibers.  They  varied  from  ten  inches  to  three  feet  from  the  ground. 
The  eggs  were  greenish  white  in  ground-color,  or  sometimes  buffy  white,  and  were 
more  or  less  heavily  marked  with  different  shades  of  brown  and  lilac,  sometimes 
in  a  wreath  round  the  larger  end  and  sometimes  all  over.  In  shape  some  were 
rounded,  one  of  these  measuring  .62  x  .52.  Others  were  elongate,  one  of  these  latter 
being  .68  x  .59.  The  favorite  haunts  of  this  form,  according  to  Ladd,  are  among 
the  rank  weeds  and  ferns  that  spring  from  between  the  rocks  and  fallen  trees  in 
the  more  heavily  timbered  ravines — places  invariably  spoken  of  by  the  country 
folks  as  "rattlesnake  dens." 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  287 


288.  Dendroica  coronata  (Linn.}.    MYRTLE  WARBLER. 

Description. — Bluish  ash  above,  streaked  with  black;  underparts  white  with  heavy  black 
streaks  on  breast;  crown-patch,  rump,  and  each  side  of  breast  bright  yellow.  Winter  birds 
brownish,  with  the  markings  dull  and  obscure,  but  the  four  yellow  patches  are  always  evident, 
though  much  less  conspicuous  than  in  late  spring  birds.  Extreme  measurements  of  72  specimens 
from  Raleigh:  L.,  5.07-5.85;  W.,  2.60-3.07;  T.,  2.00-2.45. 

Range. — Northern  North  America  in  summer,  breeding  from  northern  New  England  north- 
ward, and  wintering  in  the  greater  part  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North'jCarolina. — Whole  State  in  winter,  ranging  up  to  2,000  feet  in  the  mountains. 


FIG.  229.     MYRTLE  WARBLER. 

The  Myrtle  Warbler  is  commonly  seen  in  North  Carolina  in  its  dull  winter 
plumage,  arriving  from  the  north  about  the  middle  of  October,  and  leaving  early 
in  May.  Some,  it  is  true,  linger  a  little  longer,  the  latest  dates  for  Andrews  and 
Weaverville,  in  the  mountains,  and  for  Raleigh,  on  the  plains,  being  the  same,  viz., 
May  18.  This  is  one  of  the  species  which  has  a  spring  moult  as  well  as  the  usual 
one  in  the  fall,  the  birds  changing  to  the  bright  summer  plumage  in  late  April  and 
early  May,  just  when  they  are  leaving  us.  Other  species  of  the  genus  evidently 
have  a  spring  moult  also,  but  not  while  in  the  United  States,  the  Bay-breasted  and 
Black-poll  Warblers  being  good  examples  of  this,  while  the  Pine  Warbler,  on  the 
other  hand,  has  only  the  usual  fall  moult. 

Warblers  as  a  rule  are  insectivorous,  yet  it  is  evident  that  those  which  pass  the 
winter  with  us  cannot  be  insect-eaters  exclusively.  The  food  of  the  Myrtle  War- 
bler, while  in  North  Carolina,  consists  mainly  of  berries,  such  as  frost-grapes  and 
berries  of  the  sumac,  poison  oak,  Ilex  and  red  cedar.  On  March  4,  1898,  Pearson 
found  these  birds  swarming  literally  by  hundreds  among  the  yaupons  and  cedars 
on  Shackleford  Banks  near  Beaufort.  This  bird  is  a  fly-catching  warbler,  fre- 
quently flying  from  its  perch  in  pursuit  of  passing  insects. 

289.  Dendroica  magnolia  (Wils.).    MAGNOLIA  WARBLER. 

Description. — .Back  black,  with  olive  edgings  to  the  feathers;  rump  yellow;  head  clear  ash; 
underparts  rich  yellow  with  black  streaks;  crissum  white.  Females  and  young  males  are  much 
duller,  but  may  be  identified  by  the  fact  that  they  have  white  spots  at  the  middle  of  nearly  all 
the  tail-feathers.  Extreme  measurements  of  17  specimens  from  Raleigh  and  Weaverville:  L., 
4.75-5.15;  W.,  2.15-2.50;  T.,  1.9^2.15. 

Range. — Northern  North  America  in  summer,  breeding  from  northern  United  States  north- 
ward, and  south  along  the  higher  mountain  ranges;  winters  in  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Spring  and  fall  transient,  from  Raleigh  westward  to  the  mountains; 
breeds  to  some  extent  on  the  higher  mountains. 


288  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Magnolia  Warbler  is  quite  a  rare  spring  migrant  in  the  central  part  of  the 
State,  having  been  observed  in  spring  at  Raleigh  only  four  times,  these  all  being 
between  May  10  and  15.  In  fall  it  is  more  often  seen  and  has  been  taken  at  differ- 
ent times  between  September  11  and  October  20. 

In  the  mountain  regions  it  has  been  noted  somewhat  more  commonly  in  spring, 
the  dates  ranging  from  April  30  (1905),  at  Andrews,  to  May  19  (1899),  at  Ashe- 
ville,  while  the  latest  fall  date  is  October  15  (1902),  at  Andrews. 

Cairns  says  that  the  young  are  common  in  July.  Davis  in  a  migration  schedule 
from  Asheville,  for  1899,  states  that  a  nest  and  eggs  had  been  taken  by  Cairns  and 
were  then  in  the  collection  of  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Ladd,  of  West  Chester,  Pennsylvania. 

When  flitting  about  in  the  woods  this  bird  frequently  spreads  the  tail  and  exhib- 
its the  conspicuous  white  bar  across  it,  which  is  hidden  by  the  unmarked  middle 
pair  of  feathers  when  the  tail  is  closed. 


FIG.  230.     MAGNOLIA  WARBLER. 

The  nests  are  usually  built  on  horizontal  twigs  of  fir  or  spruce  trees  at  a  height 
of  from  four  to  six  feet,  but  sometimes  very  much  higher,  and  the  situations  chosen 
are  often  along  roads  or  other  openings  in  the  forest.  The  nest  is  loosely  con- 
structed of  fine  twigs,  coarse  grasses,  and  weed  stems,  lined  with  fine  black  roots. 
The  eggs  are  most  frequently  creamy  white  in  color,  spotted  and  blotched  with 
various  shades  of  brown,  the  markings  often  forming  a  wreath  round  the  larger 
end.  Size  .63  x  .48. 

290.  Dendroica  cerulea  (Wils.).     CERULEAN  WARBLER. 

Description. — Bright  blue,  with  black  streaks  above;  underparts  white,  a  bluish-black  band 
across  breast.  Female  not  streaked,  greenish  above,  slightly  yellowish  below.  The  species  can 
be  known  in  all  plumages  by  its  having  white  spots  near  the  end  of  nearly  all  the  tail-feathers. 
Extreme  measurements  of  3  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  4.34-5.00;  W.,  2.45-2.50;  T.,  1.60-1.85. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  mainly  west  of  the  Alleghanies,  breeding  most  abundantly 
in  the  Ohio  Valley.  Winters  in  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Known  as  a  migrant  in  the  mountains  and  at  Raleigh.  Has  been 
found  to  breed  near  Morganton. 

Cairns  recorded  this  species  as  a  rare  transient  in  Buncombe  County,  and  three 
females  have  been  taken  at  Raleigh  by  H.  H.  Brimley,  the  dates  being  May  8, 
1893;  August  29,  1889;  and  September  16,  1887. 

The  most  interesting  record,  however,  is  that  of  Wayne,  who  saw  an  adult  male 
in  company  with  a  young  bird  just  able  to  fly,  near  Morganton,  on  May  28,  1909, 
thus  conclusively  proving  that  this  dainty  little  warbler  breeds  in  our  State.  (See 
Auk,  Jan.,  1910,  pp.  84-5.) 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


289 


The  nest  is  said  to  be  built  high  up  in  trees  in  deciduous  woods,  and  to  be  a  com- 
pact, cup-shaped  structure.  The  eggs  are  white,  speckled  with  brown,  and  measure 
.69  x  .53.  From  the  above  record  of  Wayne  it  would  appear  that  the  eggs  were 
laid  near  Morganton  in  early  May. 


FIG.  231.     CERULEAN  WARBLER. 

291.  Dendroica  pennsylvanica  (Linn.).    CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER. 

Description. — Blackish  above,  much  streaked  with  whitish  olive;  crown  clear  yellow;  black 
patch  about  eye;  pure  white  below,  a  line  of  bright  chestnut  streaks  along  sides;  wing-patch 
yellowish,  never  clear  white.  Females  much  duller;  fall  birds  bright  yellowish  green  above  and 
white  below,  with  little  or  no  chestnut  on  side  except  in  the  adult  male.  Extreme  measurements 
of  21  specimens  from  Raleigh  and  Weaveryille:  L.,  4.85-5.20;  W.,  2.25-2.62;  T.,  1.7^2.00. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  rather  northerly,  except  in  the  mountains.  Winters 
in  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Transient  in  the  central  part  of  the  State,  but  summer  visitor  in  the 
mountains,  where  it  breeds  above  2,000  feet. 


FIG.  232.     CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER. 


The  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  is  a  rare  spring  and  rather  common  fall  transient 
in  central  North  Carolina,  where  it  has  been  observed  from  April  27  to  May  15 
in  the  spring,  and  from  August  17  to  October  12  in  autumn. 

In  the  mountains  it  is  common  in  summer  between  2,000  and  4,000  feet  of  eleva- 
tion, the  earliest  spring  arrival  being  noted  on  April  21,  and  the  latest  departure 
in  fall  on  September  22.  C.  S.  Brimley  took  a  female  just  ready  to  lay,  close  by 

19 


290  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


its  nest,  at  Blantyre  on  May  5,  1908,  and  Cairns  found  a  nest,  May  25,  1887,  on 
Craggy  Mountain.  The  latter  was  in  open  woods,  and  was  placed  in  a  rhododen- 
dron bush  at  a  height  of  only  three  feet.  The  structure  was  very  neat  and  compact. 
The  eggs  are  usually  four,  white,  and  speckled  with  brown,  chiefly  at  the  larger 
end,  where  the  spots  frequently  form  a  wreath.  Size  .68  x  .50. 

Other  mountain  localities  from  which  it  has  been  recorded  in  summer  are  Ashe- 
ville,  Highlands,  Andrews,  Blowing  Rock,  and  Roan  Mountain. 

This  species  seems  to  prefer  the  low  growth  in  open,  deciduous  woods. 

292.  Dendroica  castanea  (Wils.).    BAY-BREASTED  WARBLER. 

Description. — Back  ashy  olive,  streaked  with  black;  forehead  and  sides  of  head  black,  inclosing 
a  chestnut  crown-patch;  throat  and  sides  chestnut,  otherwise  buffy  below.  Female  more  oliva- 
ceous, lacking  the  chestnut  on  head  and  throat.  Females  and  fall  birds  resemble  more  or  less  the 
similar  stages  of  the  Black-poll  Warbler,  but  the  latter  species  has  the  crissum  white  and  not 
buffy.  Extreme  measurements  of  three  males  from  Blantyre:  L.,  5.46H5.85;  W.,  2.92-3.07;  T., 
1.07-2.35. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  northern  New  England  northward.  Winters 
in  Mexico,  Central  and  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  known  as  -a  rare  fall  transient  at  Chapel  Hill  and  a  rare 
spring  transient  in  the  southern  mountains. 


FIG.    233.     BAY-BREASTED  WARBLER. 

We  have  very  few  records  of  the  occurrence  of  this  species  in  North  Carolina, 
it  being  known  to  have  appeared  at  only  four  places:  Chapel  Hill,  Blantyre, 
Andrews  and  Raleigh.  At  Chapel  Hill  a  male  was  taken  on  October  2  and  another 
on  October  8,  1897,  by  Pearson.  At  Blantyre,  Sherman  and  C.  S.  Brimley  secured 
three  males  on  May  4  and  5,  1908.  They  also  saw  a  full-plumaged  male  at 
Andrews  on  May  12.  The  Blantyre  and  Andrews  specimens  were  found  in  the 
tops  of  small  deciduous  trees,  in  company  with  Black-poll  Warblers.  The  motions 
of  the  two  species  appeared  to  be  very  similar.  Lastly,  a  full-plumaged  male  was 
seen  by  Bruner  at  Raleigh  on  May  5,  1915. 

The  female  recorded  by  Cooke  as  having  been  reported  by  H.  H.  and  C.  S.  Brimley  at  Raleigh 
on  September  17,  1887,  was  later  identified  by  Brewster  as  a  Cerulean  Warbler. 

293.  Dendroica  striata  (Forst.).    BLACK-POLL  WARBLER. 

Description:  Ad.  male. — Crown  black;  ear-coverts  white;  nape  streaked  black  and  white;  back 
and  rump  ashy,  streaked  with  black;  two  white  wing-bars;  inner  vanes  of  outer  tail-feathers  with 
white  patches  at  their  tips;  underparts  white,  streaked  with  black,  the  streaks  most  numerous 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  291 


on  the  sides,  and  wanting  on  the  middle  of  the  breast  and  belly.  Ad.  female. — Upperparts  olive- 
green,  distinctly  streaked  with  black;  wings  and  tail  as  in  the  male;  underparts  white,  tinged  with 
yellow,  the  breast  and  sides  distinctly  streaked  with  black.  Ads.  fall  and  im. — -Similar  to  female, 
but  the  upperparts  are  brighter  and  not  distinctly  streaked,  the  underparts  yellower  and  not 
distinctly  streaked.  L.,  5.56;  W.,  2.92;  T.,  2.05;  B.  from  N.,  .30. 

Remarks. — No  two  of  our  warblers  more  closely  resemble  each  other  than  do  immature  and 
fall  examples  of  this  and  the  preceding  species.  There  is  no  difference  in  the  color  of  the  upper 
parts,  but  castanea^  has  the  underparts  tinged  with  delicate  cream-buff,  strongest  on  the  flanks, 
while  striata  is  distinctly  yellowish  below.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  and  northern  North  America,  breeding  in  the  far  north  from  northern  New 
England  northward.  Winters  in  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  during  the  migrations. 


PIG.  234.     BLACK-POLL  WAEBLEE. 

The  Black-poll  Warbler,  which  is  about  the  last  of  the  warblers  to  migrate, 
reaches  our  State  near  the  end  of  April  or  early  in  May.  All  soon  pass  on  to  the 
north  and  we  have  no  spring  records  for  them  later  than  May  31  at  Raleigh  and 
June  1  at  Weaverville.  In  autumn  it  appears  about  the  last  week  in  September 
and  leaves  late  in  October,  a  few  sometimes  lingering  on  into  the  first  week  of 
November. 

It  moves  about  leisurely,  for  a  warbler,  and  is  often  seen  in  the  tops  of  small 
trees  or  in  the  lowland  growth  of  willows  along  streams.  It  appears  never  to  show 
the  restless  activity  which  characterizes  such  species  as  the  Parula  or  the  Black- 
and- White  Warbler.  It  seems  to  be  equally  common  in  uplands  and  lowlands,  and 
has  been  observed  in  pine  woods,  mixed  woods,  lowland  growth,  and  shade  trees. 

294.  Dendroica  fusca  (Milll.}.    BLACKBURNIAN  WARBLER. 

Description:  Ad.  male. — Center  of  the  black  crown,  a  line  over  the  eye,  patch  behind  the 
black  ear-coverts,  throat,  and  breast  beautiful,  rich  orange;  back  black,  streaked  with  whitish; 
wing-coverts  white,  forming  a  large  white  patch  on  the  wing;  inner  vane  of  most  of  the  tail- 
feathers  almost  entirely  white,  except  at  the  tip;  the  outer  vane  of  the  outer  feathers  white  at  the 
base;  belly  tinged  with  orange,  sides  streaked  with  black.  Ad.  female. — Resembles  the  male,  but 
the  orange  markings  are  paler,  the  upperparts  are  ashy  olive-green  streaked  with  black  and 
whitish;  the  white  on  the  wings  and  tail  is  less  extensive.  Im.  male. — Resembles  the  female, 
but  has  the  orange  markings  dull  yellow,  the  crown-patch  nearly  absent.  Im.  female. — Similar 
to  the  im.  male,  but  the  yellow  markings  much  paler,  nearly  buffy,  the  back  browner.  L.,  5.25; 
W.,  2.71;  T.,  1.96;  B.  from  N.,  .31. 

Remarks. — In  connection  with  other  markings,  the  large  amount  of  white  in  the  tail,  appearing 
on  even  the  outer  vane  of  the  outer  feather,  is  characteristic  of  this  species.  (Chap.,  Birds  of 
E.N.A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  northern  United  States  northwards,  and 
south  along  the  mountain  ranges.  Winters  mainly  in  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Summer  visitor  in  the  mountains;  transient  in  the  central  portion 
of  the  State. 


292  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Blackburnian  Warbler  is  known  in  central  North  Carolina  mainly  as  a  fall 
transient,  at  which  season  it  has  been  observed  at  Raleigh  from  September  10  to 
October  13.  At  Durham  it  has  been  taken  by  Seeman  on  May  3  and  October  24, 
1906,  and  at  Chapel  Hill  by  Pearson  on  October  16,  1897. 


FIG.  235.     BLACKBURNIAN  WARBLER. 

In  the  mountains  it  is  a  common  summer  visitor,  arriving  about  the  middle  of 
April,  and  leaving  the  latter  part  of  September.  In  Buncombe  County  Cairns  has 
recorded  it  as  breeding  at  an  elevation  of  about  3,500  feet.  Brewster  reported  it 
as  abundant  in  late  May,  1885,  in  Jackson  and  Macon  counties,  everywhere  above 
3,000  feet,  and  as  one  of  the  most  common  birds  at  Highlands  and  on  the  crest  of 
the  Cowee  Mountain  range.  Twenty-three  years  later  Sherman  and  C.  S.  Brimley 
passed  through  the  same  region  in  early  May  and  saw  only  a  single  bird,  although 
a  sharp  lookout  was  maintained.  They  took  a  male  in  full  breeding  condition 
about  halfway  up  Joanna  Bald  Mountain,  near  Andrews,  on  May  14,  1908.  Bruner 
has  taken  this  bird  at  Blowing  Rock  in  summer.  Rhoads  records  it  as  breeding 
on  Roan  Mountain.  Feild  and  Bruner  found  it  common  on  Grandfather  Mountain 
in  June,  1911. 

The  nest  is  built  in  a  coniferous  tree,  often  being  placed  on  a  horizontal  limb. 
It  is  bulky,  for  a  warbler's,  and  is  usually  a  densely  woven  mass  of  small  twigs, 
vegetable  down,  and  rootlets,  lined  with  horsehair  and  feathers.  The  eggs  are  usu- 
ally four,  greenish  white  in  color,  speckled  with  brown  and  gray  chiefly  around  the 
larger  end.  Size  .69  x  .50. 

295.  Dendroica  dominica  dominica  (Linn.} .     YELLOW-THROATED  WARBLER. 

Description:  Ad.  male. — A  yellow  line  in  front  of  the  eye  and  a  white  line  over  it;  upperparts 
gray,  forehead  blackish;  wings  and  tail  edged  with  grayish,  two  white  wing-bars;  outer  tail- 
feathers  with  white  patches  near  their  tips;  cheeks  and  sides  of  the  throat  black;  a  white  patch 
on  the  side  of  the  neck;  throat  and  breast  yellow,  belly  white,  sides  streaked  with  black.  Ad. 
female. — Similar,  but  with  less  black  on  the  head,  throat,  and  neck.  L.,  5.25;  W.,  2.60;  T.,  2.01; 
B.,  .49.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — South  Atlantic  States  from  Maryland  southward,  wintering  in  the  West  Indies, 
Florida,  and  along  the  Atlantic  coast  locally  to  South  Carolina. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  except  the  higher  parts  of  the  mountain 
region. 

The  Yellow-throated  Warbler  reaches  North  Carolina  in  spring  about  the  last 
week  in  March  and  has  been  observed  as  late  as  the  middle  of  September.  In  the 


Plate  20 


YELLOW-THROATED     WARBLER.      Dendroica  dominica  dominica    I  Linn.)      Upper. 
PROTHONOTARY    WARBLER.     ProtonotarJa  citrea  (Bodd.)     Lower. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  293 


mountains  Cairns  did  not  record  it  as  arriving  until  the  third  week  of  April,  and 
at  Andrews,  farther  south,  Mrs.  Wilson's  only  record  of  arrival  is  April  24,  1902, 
agreeing  with  Cairns's  observations. 

At  Raleigh  it  breeds  in  late  April  and  early  May,  the  nest  being  frequently  built 
on  the  horizontal  limb  of  a  pine,  at  a  height  of  from  twenty  to  forty  feet  from  the 
ground.  A  nest  whose  description  C.  S.  Brimley  preserved  was  about  three  inches 
in  outside  diameter,  and  two  inches  across  inside.  In  depth  it  was  two  and  a  half 
inches  on  the  outside  and  one  and  a  half  inches  within.  It  was  composed  of  weed- 
stems  and  lined  with  horsehair.  Other  nests  examined  were  similar,  but  the  lining 
varied,  being  sometimes  horsehair  and  other  times  feathers  or  fine  grass  or  a  mix- 
ture of  these.  The  eggs  are  usually  four  in  number,  and  dull  greenish  or  grayish 
white,  spotted  with  various  shades  of  brown  and  lavender-gray,  almost  entirely  near 
the  larger  ends.  Size  .65  x  .50. 

This  species  is  one  of  our  most  characteristic  summer  warblers,  being  seen  mainly 
in  pine  woods  or  swampy  places.  Pearson  has  found  it  abundant  in  the  cypress 
swamps  of  the  coastal  region,  where,  he  states,  it  frequently  nests  in  the  gray  moss 
hanging  from  the  trees.  In  habits  it  has  something  of  the  creeping  ways  of  the 
Black-and- White  Warbler,  but  frequents  the  branches  and  twigs  of  trees  only,  not 
running  about  on  the  trunks.  Its  song  is  very  distinctive,  being  loud,  ringing,  and 
little  like  the  trilling  or  buzzing  song  of  the  average  warbler. 

296.  Dendroica  dominica  albilora  (Ridgw.).    SYCAMORE  WARBLER. 

Description. — Similar  to  the  Yellow-throated  Warbler,  but  slightly  smaller,  with  a  relatively 
shorter  bill.  Superciliary  stripe  all  white. 

Range. — Mississippi  Valley,  breeding  throughout  its  range;  winters  in  Mexico  and  Central 
America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  known  from  the  mountain  region. 


FIG.  236.     SYCAMORE  WARBLER. 

There  are  three  Sycamore  Warbler  skins  in  the  collection  of  Brewster  at  Cam- 
bridge, Mass.,  which  were  taken  by  Cairns  in  Buncombe  County  on  April  18,  1890, 
and  June  5  and  12,  1886,  and  S.  C.  Bruner  took  one  at  Edgemont,  Caldwell  County, 
June  28,  1910. 

Besides  these,  we  find  Wayne  referring  warblers  seen  near  Morganton  and  Lenoir 
to  this  form,  but  we  think  it  more  probable  that  he  saw  the  common  eastern  Yellow- 
throated  Warblers. 

The  Sycamore  Warbler  is  merely  the  western  subspecies  of  the  Yellow-throated 
and  its  habits  are  not  dissimilar. 


294  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Brewster  informs  us  that  the  three  above-mentioned  specimens  are  all  that  he 
has  obtained  from  western  North  Carolina,  and  that  he  is  still  inclined  to  refer 
them  to  this  form,  in  case  recognition  were  given  it  by  the  American  Ornithologist's 
Union;  and  furthermore  states  that  there  is  only  a  tendency  in  the  Yellow-throated 
Warblers  from  the  Mississippi  Valley  to  have  whiter  lores,  shorter  bills,  and  other 
marks  regarded  as  characteristic  of  this  variety. 

297.  Dendroica  virens  (Gmel.).    BLACK-THROATED  GREEN  WARBLER. 

Description. — Clear  yellowish  olive;  sides  of  head  yellow;  whole  throat  and  breast  black;  rest 
of  underparts  white;  females  and  fall  birds  with  the  black  interrupted  or  veiled  by  yellowish. 
Extreme  measurements  of  33  specimens  from  Raleigh  and  Weaverville:  L.,  4.85—3.24;  W.,  2.32— 
2.65;  T.,  1.85-2.12. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  northern  United  States  northward,  and  south 
along  the  mountain  ranges.  Winters  in  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State,  breeding  in  the  mountains  and  also  near  the  coast; 
transient  in  the  central  portion  of  the  State. 


FIG.  237.     BLACK-THROATED  GKEEN  WAEBLEE. 

In  spring  the  Black-throated  Green  Warbler  arrives  in  central  North  Carolina 
the  last  of  March,  and  has  been  seen  in  the  neighborhood  of  Raleigh  until  May  22. 
In  the  mountains  it  appears  about  April  15  and  has  been  known  to  remain  until 
October  31,  which  is  about  two  weeks  later  than  the  latest  date  of  its  known  occur- 
rence at  Raleigh. 

Bruner  and  Sherman  have  found  it  to  be  common  at  Blowing  Rock  in  June  and 
later,  and  the  former  also  reports  it  breeding  in  June,  1909,  a  little  west  of  Taylors- 
ville.  Sherman  found  it  at  Hendersonville  in  the  summer  of  1907,  and  he  and 
C.  S.  Brimley  saw  and  heard  it  commonly  between  Toxaway  and  Highlands  on 
May  8,  1908,  in  growths  of  hemlock  near  the  roadside.  Rhoads  recorded  it  breed- 
ing on  Roan  Mountain  in  1895,  and  Sherman  found  it  common  at  Linville  in  late 
June,  1909.  These  localities  show  that  it  is  pretty  well  distributed  through  the 
mountains  in  the  breeding  season,  and  is  not  confined  by  any  means  to  the  higher 
elevations,  as  the  Taylorsville  and  Hendersonville  records  attest. 

The  nests  are  placed  in  the  forks  of  horizontal  limbs  of  coniferous  trees.  These 
are  compact,  well  woven  structures,  made  of  thin  strips  of  bark,  twigs,  dry  grass, 
wool  and  feathers,  lined  with  hair  and  vegetable  down.  The  eggs  are  usually  four, 
white  or  buffy,  speckled  and  spotted  with  brown  and  gray  in  indistinct  wreaths 
about  the  larger  end.  Size  .65  x  .50. 


Plate  21 


YELLOW  WARBLER.      Dendroica  aestiva    (Gmel,)      Upper. 
BLACK -THROATED    BLUE   WARBLER.       Dendroica  caerulescens  caerulescens   (Gmel.)       Male  and  female,  lower 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  295 


Little  is  known  at  this  time  of  the  distribution  of  this  species  in  eastern  North 
Carolina.  At  Lake  Ellis,  in  Craven  County,  we  have  observed  it  in  May  of  three 
different  years,  and  in  each  case  up  to  the  last  day  of  our  stay,  which  in  1908  was 
on  May  30.  These  acted  like  breeding  birds,  rather  than  migrants;  but  of  four 
males  killed  only  two  had  fully  developed  sexual  organs.  At  White  Lake,  in 
Bladen  County,  Sherman  and  H.  H.  Brimley  found  these  warblers  singing  every 
day  of  their  stay  from  May  18  to  May  22,  1909,  and  finally  Smithwick  reports  see- 
ing the  species  feeding  young  on  the  banks  of  the  Neuse  River  near  LaGrange,  in 
Lenoir  County,  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  1905.  The  question  of  its  breeding  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  State  was  further  settled  beyond  question  in  mid-June,  1910, 
when  H.  H.  Brimley  observed  one  at  Lake  Ellis  carrying  food  to  its  young.  The 
bird  was  seen  at  the  distance  of  only  a  few  feet,  so  that  there  can  be  no  doubt  as 
to  its  identification. 

It  may  be  noted  that  there  is  a  cool,  dense  shade  in  the  primeval  forests  about 
the  lakes  in  Craven  County,  which  may  serve  the  birds  quite  as  well  as  more  boreal 
conditions. 

298.  Dendroica  vigors!  vigors!  (Aud.).    PINE  WARBLER. 

Description. — Yellowish  olive  above;  underparts  and  superciliary  line  dull  yellow;  no  sharp 
markings  anywhere;  female  sometimes  much  like  male,  but  far  more  often  dull  brownish  olive 
above  and  dirty  whitish,  little  if  at  all  tinged  with  yellow,  below.  One  of  the  largest  and  dullest 
of  the  Dendroicas.  Extreme  measurements  of  123  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  5.25-5.85;  W.,  2.65— 
3.12;  T.,  2.00-2.35. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  wintering  in  more  southern  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Common  resident  east  of  the  mountains;  summer  resident  in  the 
mountains. 


FIG.  238.     PINE  WAEBLBE. 

This  is  one  of  our  most  abundant  warblers,  being  found  in  the  woods  of  loblolly, 
short-leaf  and  long-leaf  pines  throughout  the  State.  It  is  only  a  summer  visitor 
in  the  mountains,  but  elsewhere  in  the  State  it  is  a  permanent  resident.  Cairns 
stated  that  it  arrived  in  Buncombe  County  early  in  February. 

The  nest  is  built  in  early  April,  frequently  on  the  horizontal  limb  of  a  pine,  but 
sometimes  among  the  terminal  twigs.  Usually  it  is  found  at  a  height  of  from 
twenty-five  to  thirty  feet  from  the  ground,  although  nests  have  been  taken  as  low 
as  ten  and  again  as  high  as  seventy  feet.  The  structure  is  generally  composed  of 
strips  of  grapevine  bark  and  weed  stems,  lined  with  horsehair  and  feathers.  Often 
the  outside  is  decorated  with  cobwebs.  The  eggs  are  four,  of  a  grayish  white 
ground  color,  speckled  and  spotted  with  chestnut  and  lilac,  the  markings  sometimes 
forming  wreaths  about  the  larger  end. 


296  BlEDS    OF    XORTH    CAROLINA 


Although  early  April  is  the  usual  time  for  nest  building  to  begin,  we  have  found 
nests  as  early  as  March  20,  in  1890,  and  as  late  as  May  24  in  the  same  year.  Mr. 
Adickes,  Assistant  Curator  of  the  State  Museum,  has  taken  one  nest  in  June.  About 
two  weeks  time  is  sufficient  to  build  the  nest  and  deposit  a  full  set  of  eggs,  unless 
interrupted  by  unseasonable  weather.  If  the  nest  is  taken,  the  birds  will  at  once 
build  another,  and  this  will  have  its  full  complement  of  eggs  in  two  weeks  from 
the  time  the  first  was  destroyed.  This  action  will  be  repeated  several  times  if  the 
birds  are  continually  disturbed.  The  nests  are  comparatively  easy  to  find  by  watch- 
ing the  birds  while  the  building  is  in  progress. 

Although  the  Pine  Warbler  is  essentially  a  bird  of  the  pine  woods,  yet  in  the  fall 
it  is  often  found  in  mixed  woods  in  large  numbers,  and  in  the  winter,  when  food 
is  scarce,  it  sometimes  collects  about  dwellings  and  farmyards  and  even  in  open 
fields. 

299.  Dendroica  palmarum  palmarum  (Gmel).    PALM  WARBLER. 

Description:  Ads. — Crown  chestnut;  back  olive-grayish  brown,  indistinctly  streaked;  rump 
olive-green;  no  wing-bars;  tail  black,  the  outer  feathers  with  white  patches  on  their  inner  vanes 
at  the  tips;  a  yellow  line  over  the  eye;  throat  and  breast  bright  yellow;  belly  soiled  whitish,  tinged 
with  yellow;  sides  of  the  throat,  the  breast,  and  sides  streaked  with  chestnut-rufous;  under  tail- 
coverts  yellow.  Ad.  in  winter  and  Im. — Crown-cap  partly  concealed  by  brownish  tips  to  the 
feathers,  or  sometimes  wanting;  line  over  the  eye  and  eye-ring  white;  underparts  soiled  whitish, 
more  or  less  tinged  with  yellow;  breast  streaked  with  dusky.  L.,  5.25;  W.,  2.64;  T.,  2.10;  B. 
from  N.,  .32.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  principally  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  during  the  migrations,  breeding 
mainly  in  British  America,  and  wintering  in  the  West  Indies. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  recorded  from  the  mountains  and  central  part  of  the 
State  as  a  spring  migrant. 


FIG.  239.     PALM  WARBLER. 

A  single  female  taken  at  Blantyre  May  6,  1908,  seems  referable  here,  as  also 
does  one  taken  at  Raleigh  May  1,  1893.  Cooke  states  that  migrants  recorded  by 
Cairns  as  late  as  May  13,  in  Buncombe  County,  probably  belong  here,  as  this  is 
later  in  the  season  than  the  next  form  is  supposed  to  appear. 

300.  Dendroica  palmarum  hypochrysea  (Ridgw.).  YELLOW  PALM  WAR- 
BLER. 

Description:  Ads. — Crown  chestnut;  back  brownish  olive-green;  rump  olive-green;  no  white 
wing-bars;  secondaries  sometimes  tinged  with  chestnut;  tail  edged  with  olive-green,  the  outer 
feathers  with  white  spots  on  their  inner  vanes  near  the  tips;  line  over  the  eye  and  eye-ring  yellow; 
underparts  entirely  bright  yellow;  sides  of  the  throat,  the  breast,  and  sides  streaked  with  chestnut- 
rufous.  Ad.  in  winter  and  Im. — Crown-cap  partly  concealed  by  the  brownish  tips  to  the  feathers, 
or  sometimes  wanting;  line  over  the  eye  and  eye-ring  yellowish;  entire  underparts  uniform  yellow, 
washed  with  ashy;  the  sides  of  the  throat,  the  breast,  and  sides  streaked  with  chestnut-rufous 
or  dusky.  L.,  5.43;  W.,  2.61;  T.,  2.10;  B.  from  X.,  .31. 


297 


Remarks. — In  any  plumage  this  bird  may  be  distinguished  from  the  preceding  by  its  uniformly 
yellow  underparts.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N .  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  east  of  the  Alleghanies,  breeding  from  New  Brunswick  and  Nova 
Scotia  northward,  and  wintering  in  the  Gulf  and  South  Atlantic  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — A  transient  throughout  the  State;  wintering,  at  least  sparingly,  in 
the  east. 


FIG.  240.     YELLOW  PALM  WAEBLEE. 

The  Yellow  Palm  Warbler,  one  of  the  very  few  species  which  regularly  and  per- 
sistently wags  the  tail,  is  sometimes  a  fairly  common  migrant  at  Raleigh,  the 
periods  at  which  it  is  usually  most  common  being  about  the  end  of  March  and  the 
middle  or  end  of  April.  These  migrating  birds  are  usually  seen  in  woods,  while 
the  winter  birds,  which  are  only  of  casual  occurrence,  frequent  gardens  and  open 
scrubby  country.  At  Weaverville  it  has  been  recorded  from  April  14  to  May  13 
in  spring,  and  from  September  14  to  November  28  in  the  fall.  On  the  coast  Pear- 
son has  found  it  in  Hyde  County  in  April.  Apparently  none  of  these  birds  pass  the 
winter  months  in  the  mountains. 

301.  Dendroica  discolor  (Vieill.}.    PRAIRIE  WARBLER. 

Description. — Upperparts  bright  olive-green;  back  spotted  with  chestnut-rufous;  wing-bars 
yellowish;  outer  tail-feathers  with  large  white  patches  at  their  tips,  the  outer  vane  of  the  outer 
feather  white  at  the  base;  a  yellow  line  over  the  eye;  lores  and  a  crescent  below  the  eye  black; 
underparts  bright  yellow;  sides  heavily  streaked  with  black.  Ad.  female. — Similar,  but  with 
less,  or  sometimes  no  chestnut-rufous  on  the  back.  Im.  female. — Upperparts  uniformly  ashy 
olive-green;  no  apparent  wing-bars;  outer  tail-feathers  with  white  on  their  inner  webs  at  the 
tips;  ear-coverts  ashy;  underparts  yellow;  sides  indistinctly  streaked  with  blackish.  L.,  4.75; 
W.,  2.20;  T.,  1.95;  B.  from  N.,  .28. 

Remarks. — The  chestnut-rufous  patch  in  the  back  at  once  identifies  the  adults;  but  the  young 
females  are  puzzling  birds,  to  be  known  chiefly  by  their  small  size,  absence  of  wing-bars  and 
streaks  on  the  sides.  (Chaps.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  breeding  from  Massachusetts  southward;  winters  in  the  West 
Indies  and  the  southern  half  of  Florida. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Summer  visitor  throughout  the  State,  east  of  mountains. 

This  warbler  is  a  common  summer  resident  throughout  the  eastern  and  central 
portions  of  the  State,  but  has  not  been  found  in  the  higher  mountains. .  It  has  been 
recorded  from  Taylorsville  in  Alexander  County  (Bruner,  1909);  Old  Fort  in 
McDowell  County  (Brewster,  1885) ;  and  Edgemont,  Caldwell  County  (Feild  and 
Bruner,  1911).  It  arrives  in  the  State  about  the  middle  of  April  or  a  little  earlier, 
and  has  been  recorded  as  late  as  September  20. 

While  here  it  frequents  old  fields  and  open  woods,  particularly  where  the  large 
trees  have  been  cut  away  and  there  exists  an  abundance  of  bushes  and  saplings. 


298  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


In  such  places  its  buzzing  song,  which  somehow  to  us  always  seems  to  suggest  hot 
weather,  is  almost  constantly  heard.  The  nest  is  a  very  neat,  compact  structure 
of  fine  grass,  plentifully  mingled  with  the  gray  leaves  of  wild  life-everlasting 
(rabbit  tobacco),  which  gives  it  a  characteristic  gray  appearance.  The  inside  is 
lined  with  fine  grass  or  horsehair.  It  is  never  placed  at  any  great  height  from 
the  ground,  being  usually  only  three  or  four  feet  up  in  a  bush  or  small  tree.  The 
species  seems  to  prefer  sweet-gum  saplings  as  nesting  trees  near  Raleigh,  nine  out 
of  seventeen  nests  examined  by  C.  S.  Brimley  having  been  thus  situated.  Two 
were  in  elms,  two  in  huckleberries,  and  one  each  was  found  in  pine,  sumac,  black 
haw,  and  Ilex  decidua.  Pearson  examined  a  nest  at  Cape  Hatteras  on  May  9,  1898, 
which  contained  five  slightly  incubated  eggs.  It  was  situated  in  a  holly  tree  about 
ten  feet  from  the  ground  and  was  composed  largely  of  wool.  The  eggs  have  a 
nearly  pure  white  ground-color,  and  are  speckled  and  spotted  with  brown,  the  mark- 
ings usually  forming  wreaths  about  the  larger  end.  Size  .64  x  .47.  Eggs  have  been 
taken  at  Raleigh  from  May  12  to  June  11,  the  later  dates,  however,  representing 
second  sets  laid  by  birds  whose  first  nests  had  been  disturbed. 


FIG.  241.     PEAIEIE  WAEBL.ER. 

This  is  one  of  the  smallest  of  the  warblers,  and  like  the  two  preceding  forms,  is 
addicted  to  the  habit  of  tail-wagging. 

With  this  species  we  close  the  list  of  our  North  Carolina  Wood  Warblers;  one  other  species, 
however,  Kirtland's  Warbler  (kirtlandi),  will  probably  be  found  sooner  or  later  as  a  migrant. 
This  bird  is  ashy  blue  above  and  yellow  below.  The  back  and  sides  are  streaked  with  black; 
the  chin  and  crissum  are  white,  the  lores  black;  wing-bars  absent.  Female  duller.  Length 
about  5}^  inches.  It  has  been  recorded  from  St.  Helena  Island,  S.  C.,  in  the  spring  and  Fort 
Myer,  Va.,  and  Chester,  S.  C.,  in  the  fall  (see  Cooke  Migration  and  Distribution  of  North  American- 
Warblers,  pp.  91-92). 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


Genus  Seiurus  (Swains.) 

The  genus  Seiurus  is  composed  of  a  few  rather  large  warblers,  which  are  more 
plainly  colored  than  is  usual  in  this  family.  Unlike  our  other  warblers,  these  are 
essentially  ground-loving  birds.  They  walk,  instead  of  hopping  like  the  other  spe- 
cies. They  are  all  whitish  below,  with  streaked  breasts. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Crown  orange-brown  with  a  black  streak  on  each  side.     Oven-bird. 

1.  Crown  plain  brownish  like  back.     See  2. 

2.  Superciliary  stripe  buffy;  underparts  tinged  with  pale  yellow.     Water-Thrush. 

2.  Superciliary  stripe  white;  underparts  buffy-white,  flanks  and  crissum  buff.     Louisiana  Water- 
Thrush. 

302.  Seiurus  aurocapillus  (Linn.).    OVEN-BIRD. 

Description:  Ads. — Center  of  the  crown  pale  rufous  or  ochraceous-buff ,  bordered  on  either  side 
by  black  lines;  rest  of  the  upperparts,  wings,  and  tail  brownish  olive-green;  no  wing-bars  or  tail- 
patches;  underparts  white;  the  sides  of  the  throat,  the  breast,  and  sides  streaked  with  black. 
L.,  6.17;  W.,  3.00;  T.,  2.15;  B.  from  N.,  .35.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  North  Carolina  northward;  winters  in  Mexico. 
Central  America,  and  the  West  Indies. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  during  the  migrations,  and  to  a  large  extent  also  in 


FIG.  242.     OVEN-BIRD. 


The  Oven-bird,  also  called  the  Golden-crowned  Thrush,  is  a  summer  resident  in 
North  Carolina.  It  arrives  in  April  and  has  been  recorded  as  late  as  October  23. 
While  here  it  frequents  dense,  shady  woods,  where  one  may  constantly  hear  its 
sweet,  impulsive  song. 

In  the  mountains  this  is  one  of  the  most  characteristic  and  abundant  birds  of 
the  dense  woods,  breeding  commonly  in  suitable  situations  during  May  and  June. 
The  nest  is  built  on  the  ground,  of  leaves,  grasses  and  fibers,  and  is  lined  with 
hair  and  fine  grass.  In  form  it  is  dome-shaped  with  the  entrance  on  one  side. 
The  eggs  number  four  or  five,  and  are  white,  spotted  and  speckled  with  brown 
and  gray,  the  markings  becoming  more  prominent  at  the  larger  end.  Size 
.75  x  .57. 


300  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Below  the  mountains  the  species  is  reported  as  breeding  at  Statesville,  Old  Rich- 
mond (Forsyth  County),  and  Chapel  Hill.  Besides  these  localities,  Bruner  found 
it  breeding  rather  commonly  near  Raleigh  in  1907  and  1908.  Smithwick  reports 
a  nest  found  in  Bertie  County  May  19,  1892;  and  H.  H.  Brimley  flushed  a  bird 
from  its  nest  near  Lake  Ellis  in  Craven  County  in  May,  1906. 

In  fall,  when  migrating,  this  species  is  often  excessively  fat. 

303.  Seiurus  noveboracensis  noveboracensis  (Gmel.}.    WATER-THRUSH. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts,  wings,  and  tail  uniform  olive;  no  wing-bars  or  tail-patches;  a 
buffy  line  over  the  eye;  underparts  white,  tinged  with  pale  sulphur-yellow  (richer  in  fall),  and 
everywhere  (including  throat)  streaked  with  black.  L.,  6.04;  W.,  2.99;  T.,  2.11;  B.  from  N.,  .36. 
(Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  northern  United  States  northward;  winters 
in  Mexico,  the  West  Indies,  Central  America,  and  northern  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Spring  and  fall  transient  throughout  the  State. 


FIG.  243.     WATER-THRUSH. 

This  bird,  sometimes  called  the  Small-billed  Water-Thrush  to  distinguish  it  from 
the  next  species,  appears  to  be  a  rather  common  spring  and  fall  transient  through- 
out North  Carolina.  It  has  been  recorded  at  Raleigh  from  April  18  to  May  28  in 
spring,  and  from  July  25  to  October  1  in  autumn.  The  records  we  have  from  other 
parts  of  the  State  all  fall  within  these  periods. 

The  Water-Thrush  frequents  sluggish  streams  or  shady  low-grounds,  where  it 
runs  about  on  the  bare  patches  of  sand  or  mud  beneath  the  shadow  of  the  over- 
hanging ferns  or  shrubbery,  uttering  at  intervals  its  sharp  chirp,  and  bobbing  con- 
tinually as  its  walks. 

304.  Seiurus  motacilla  (Vieill.}.     LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH. 

Description:  Ads. — A  conspicuous  white  line  over  the  eye;  upperparts,  wings,  and  tail  olive; 
no  wing-bars  or  tail-patches;  underparts  white,  tinged  with  cream-buff,  especially  on  the  flanks 
and  crissum,  and  streaked  with  blackish,  except  on  the  throat  and  middle  of  the  belly.  L.,  6.28; 
W.,  3.23;  T.,  2.14;  B.  from  N.,  .40. 

Remarks. — Aside  from  its  larger  size,  this  bird  may  be  known  from  the  preceding  species  by 
the  whiter,  more  conspicuous  line  over  the  eye,  buffy  instead  of  yellowish  tinge  on  the  under- 
parts, and  absence  of  spots  on  the  throat.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.)  . 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  breeding  throughout  its  range;  winters  in  West  Indies,  Mexico, 
and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  breeding  throughout  its  range. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  301 


The  Louisiana  Water-Thrush,  also  known  as  the  Long-billed  Water-Thrush,  is 
a  summer  resident  in  North  Carolina.  It  arrives  during  the  last  half  of  March, 
usually  in  the  last  week,  and  we  have  no  record  of  its  remaining  later  than  the 
end  of  August. 


FIG.  244.     LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH. 

It  is  a  shy,  retiring  bird  and,  except  when  accompanied  by  its  young,  is  usually 
seen  singly  or  in  pairs.  The  nest,  which  is  built  in  April,  is  rather  bulky,  and  is 
constructed  among  tree  roots  or  other  supporting  material  in  the  vertical  bank  of 
some  woodland  stream.  Usually  it  is  found  two  or  three  feet  directly  above  the 
water  and  often  on  the  outer  curve  of  a  bend.  The  lower  portion  of  the  nest  is 
made  of  wet  leaves,  gathered  from  the  water.  On  a  substantial  foundation  of  this 
material  is  placed  the  main  structure,  consisting  of  grass  and  weed  stems.  The 
nest,  although  open  above,  is  frequently  concealed  from  view  by  overhanging  ferns 
or  other  vegetation,  and  so  well  does  it  match  its  surroundings  that  it  usually 
escapes  detection  unless  the  bird  is  seen  to  fly  from  it.  The  eggs  are  often  five  in 
number,  are  laid  in  late  April  or  early  M&y,  and  have  a  white,  or  pinkish-white, 
ground-color,  speckled  all  over  with  brown,  sometimes  with  additional  gray  spot- 
tings.  Size  .78  x  .61. 

The  birds  feed  in  marshy  lowgrounds,  at  times  half  a  mile  or  more  from  the 
nest.  The  common  note  is  louder  and  sharper  than  that  of  the  preceding  species, 
and  the  song  is  clear  and  ringing.  This  is  delivered  in  a  manner  which  seems  to 
indicate  that  the  bird  is  in  haste  to  end  the  performance. 

The  Louisiana  Water-Thrush  is  found  in  practically  all  parts  of  the  State, 
ranging  in  the  mountains  up  to  4,000  feet  and  possibly  beyond. 

Genus  Oporornis  (Baird) 

Three  species  have  been  reported  from  the  State. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Whole  underparts  yellow.     Kentucky  Warbler. 

1.  Chin,  throat,  and  chest  not  yellow.     See  2. 

2.  Wing  2.62  or  more;  a  continuous  white  orbital  rine.     Connecticut  Warbler. 
2.  Wing  2.50  or  less;  no  orbital  ring.     Mourning  Warbler. 


302  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


305.  Oporornis  formosus  (Wils.).    KENTUCKY  WARBLER. 

Description. — Bright  olive-green  above;  pure  yellow  below;  forehead  and  sides  of  head  black; 
a  yellow  superciliary  line  curving  around  eye  behind.  Measurements  of  28  Raleigh  specimens: 
L.,  5.25-5.75;  W.,  2.62-2.87;  T.,  1.87-2.18. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  breeding  from  North  Carolina  northward;  winters  in  Mexico 
and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Summer  resident  in  the  central  and  western  portions  of  the  State. 


FIG.  245.     KENTUCKY  WARBLER. 

The  Kentucky  Warbler  is  not  an  uncommon  bird  in  damp,  shady  woods,  and 
ranges  in  the  mountains  up  to  4,000  feet  elevation.  It  arrives  during  the  latter 
half  of  April  and  leaves  about  the  end  of  September,  though  it  has  been  noted 
once  in  mid-October.  The  nest  is  built  on  the  ground,  in  woods,  and  is  composed 
of  dead  leaves,  lined  with  grass,  rootlets,  and  pine  straw.  The  eggs,  which  are 
laid  in  May  or  June,  have  a  white  ground-color,  and  are  spotted  and  speckled  with 
brown  and  lilac-gray,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end.  Size  .73  x  .57. 

This  is  a  handsome  species,  with  a  loud  song  somewhat  resembling  that  of  the 
Carolina  Wren.  Being  very  shy,  it  is,  however,  more  often  heard  than  seen. 

306.  Oporornis  agilis  (Wils.).     CONNECTICUT  WARBLER. 

Description. — Olive-green,  ashy  on  head;  throat  and  breast  brownish  ashy;  otherwise  yellow 
below;  a  continuous  white  orbital  ring.  L.,  5.40;  W.,  2.90;  T.,  1.90;  B.  from  N.,  .32. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  chiefly  or  entirely  north  of  the  United  States; 
winter  home  not  yet  known. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  known  as  a  migrant  at  Raleigh  and  Highlands. 


FIG.  246.     CONNECTICUT  WARBLER. 


The  Connecticut  Warbler  has  been  taken  in  the  State  but  twice.  Once  was  at 
Raleigh,  on  October  15,  1884 — where  it  has  also  been  seen  on  October  15  and  24, 
1896,  and  on  October  13,  1898. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  303 


A  specimen  in  the  flesh  was  received  at  the  State  Museum  May  27,  1910,  from 
Miss  M.  E.  Huger  of  Highlands.  The  bird  had  been  caught  by  a  cat  a  day  or  two 
previously. 

"During  the  spring  migration  the  Connecticut  Warbler  seems  to  be  confined  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley,  where,  at  this  season,  as  well  as  in  the  fall,  it  is  generally  considered  a  rare  bird. 
In  its  return  migration,  however,  it  is  often  common  in  the  Atlantic  States.  At  this  time  they 
may  usually  be  found  in  low,  damp  woods  with  abundant  undergrowth,  though  not  infrequeytly 
they  are  flushed  from  weedy  growths  bordering  hedgerows  some  distance  from  the  woods.  Then 
are  now  excessively  fat,  no  other  warbler,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  approaching  them  in  this  respect. 
While,  locally,  Connecticut  Warblers  seem  to  come  in  flights,  being  common  some  years  and  rare 
others,  the  census  of  lighthouse-striking  warblers  shows  that  the  bird  is  a  regular  autumnal 
visitor. 

"According  to  Ernest  Seton,  who  alone  has  found  the  Connecticut  breeding,  the  bird,  in  Mani- 
toba, summers  in  tamarac  swamps.  Gault's  observations  in  Aitkin  County,  Minn.,  indicate 
the  breeding  of  the  species  in  similar  localities  at  that  place,  while  the  taking  of  fledglings  by 
Warren,  on  August  10,  near  Palmer,  in  the  Upper  Peninsula  of  Michigan,  considerably  extends 
the  probable  nesting  range  of  the  species.  Warren  remarks  that  at  this  point  he  saw  over  fifty 
Connecticut  Warblers  on  August  29,  an  observation  which  suggests  that  the  species  is  much 
more  common  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  than  existing  records  would  lead  us  to  believe."  (Chap- 
man's The  Warblers  of  North  America.) 


FIG.  247.     MOURNING  WARBLER. 

307.  Oporornis  Philadelphia  (Wils.).    MOURNING  WARBLER. 

The  Mourning  Warbler,  is  bright  olive-green,  clear  yellow  below;  head  ashy;  throat  and  breast 
mixed  ash-gray  and  black.  Female  and  fall  birds  like  the  corresponding  stage  of  the  preceding; 
that  is,  with  the  throat  whitish  or  buffy  and  the  breast  brownish  gray,  but  distinguished  by 
the  shorter  wing  and  the  absence  of  an  orbital  ring.  L.,  5.63;  W.,  2.56;  T.,  2.13;  B.  from  N.,  .32. 

Mrs.  Donald  Wilson,  of  Andrews,  Cherokee  County,  reports  having  seen  full- 
plumaged  specimens  of  this  species  at  Andrews.  As  it  is  known  to  breed  in  the 
mountains  of  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia,  it  is  of  course  possible  that  more 
complete  and  thorough  observations  may  show  that  it  breeds  also  in  the  moun- 
tains of  North  Carolina. 

Genus  Geothlypis  (Cab.) 

308.  Geothlypis  trichas  trichas  (Linn.}.    MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROAT. 

Description. — Olive-green  above;  forehead  and  broad  mask  extending  down  sides  of  head  and 
neck,  jet  black;  breast  and  under  tail-coverts  yellow.  Extreme  measurements  of  88  Raleigh 
specimens:  L.,  4.60-5.30;  W.,  1.87-2.37;  T.,  1.68-2.25. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  wintering  in  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States  and  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer;  occasionally  seen  in  winter  in  the  east. 

The  Maryland  Yellow-throat,  which  is  probably  known  by  sight  to  more  of  our 
people  than  any  other  small  warbler,  arrives  in  central  North  Carolina  about  the 


304  BIRDS  OF  N~ORTH  CAROLINA 


last  week  in  March,  and  perhaps  a  week  later  in  the  mountains.  It  remains  all 
summer,  finally  leaving  in  October,  though  occasional  specimens  have  been  observed 
in  winter  at  Durham,  Raleigh,  and  farther  east.  Ludlow  Griscom  found  it  not 
uncommon  in  Currituck  County  in  January,  1915. 

This  is  a  rather  trustful  little  bird,  frequenting  thickets  everywhere,  especially 
along  streams,  and  if  unmolested  will  often  come  to  the  edge  of  the  thickets  or 
bushes  to  peer  inquisitively  at  the  passer-by. 


FIG.  248.     MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROAT. 

The  nest  is  constructed  of  grass  or  reed  leaves,  and  is  usually  built  in  a  bunch 
of  grass,  clover,  or  weeds,  only  a  few  inches  from  the  ground.  The  eggs  are  most 
often  four,  laid  in  May  or  June,  and  have  a  white  ground-color,  spotted  near  the 
larger  end  with  various  shades  of  gray  and  brown.  Size  .70  x  .52. 

Apparently,  the  form  occurring  throughout  our  State  is  the  typical  Maryland  Yellow-throat, 
but  another  slightly  differing  subspecies  is  probably  found  in  the  coastal  country.  This  is  the 
Florida  Yellow-throat,  ignota  (Chapman),  which  is  said  to  have  the  tail  longer  than  the  wings, 
the  black  of  the  head  slightly  more  extensive,  and  the  yellow  of  the  underparts  more  ochraceous ; 
but  these  differences  are  not  readily  detected  in  the  field. 

Genus  Icteria  (Vieill.) 
309.  Icteria  virens  virens  (Linn.).    YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT. 

Description:  Ads. — Largest  of  the  warblers;  upparparts,  wings,  and  tail  olive-green;  line  from 
the  eye  to  the  bill,  one  on  the  side  of  the  throat,  and  eye-ring  white;  throat,  breast,  and  upper 
belly  bright  yellow;  lower  belly  white;  sidas  grayish.  L.,  7.44;  W.,  3.00;  T.,  3.07;  B.  from  N., 
.41.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  wintering  in  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Central  and  western  portions  in  summer. 

The  Chat,  also  locally  called  "Pompey,"  is  an  abundant  summer  visitor  in  cen- 
tral and  western  North  Carolina,  occurring  almost  everywhere  in  sunny  thickets 
and  among  low  second-growth  trees.  It  arrives  about  the  close  of  the  third  week 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  305 


in  April,  and  has  been  noted  as  late  as  September  13  at  Raleigh,  and  October  1  at 
Asheville.    It  appears  to  be  absent  from  the  eastern  border  of  the  State. 

The  Chat  is  a  noisy,  though  shy  bird,  and  is  also  one  of  the  few  species  that  sing 
at  night  as  well  as  in  the  daytime.  When  singing,  it  frequently  flies  upward  with 
flapping  wings  and  jerking  tail,  finally  finishing  its  performance  by  a  quick  dive 
into  a  neighboring  thicket. 


FIG.  249.     YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT. 

The  eggs  are  three  or  four  in  number,  laid  in  May  and  June.  These  are  pure 
white  with  a  glossy  surface,  marked  with  specks  and  spots  of  some  shade  of  brown. 
Size  .92  x  .71.  The  nest  is  placed  among  briars  or  in  a  small  bush  at  a  height  of 
one  to  five  feet  from  the  ground,  and  is  constructed  of  grass  or  of  weed  stems,  lined 
with  fine  grass  or  roots. 

Genus  Wilsonia  (Bonap.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES. 

1.  Tail-feathers  blotched  with  white.     Hooded  Warbler. 

1.  Tail-feathers  unblotched.     See  2. 

2.  Under  parts  yellow  without  streaks.     Wilson's  Warbler. 

2.  Underparts  yellow  with  a  chain  of  black  streaks  across  breast.     Canada  Warbler. 

310.  Wilsonia  citrina  (Bodd.).    HOODED  WARBLER. 

Description. — Bright  yellow  olive,  bright  yellow  below.  Male  with  breast,  crown,  and  neck 
all  around  jet  black,  inclosing  a  broad  yellow  mask;  female  with  the  black  reduced  or  absent. 
Extreme  measurements  of  74  specimens  from  Bertie  and  Wake  counties:  L.,  5.25—5.85;  W., 
2.30-2.75;  T.,  2.20-2.50. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  wintering  in  West  Indies,  Mexico,  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina.— Whole  State  in  summer. 

20 


306  BIRDS  OF  J^ORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Hooded  Warbler  arrives  in  North  Carolina  about  the  middle  of  April,  and 
appears  to  leave  late  in  September.  While  here  it  frequents  shady  woods,  but  is 
most  abundant  in  the  low  woodlands  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  where  it  seems 
to  breed  chiefly  in  reed  thickets. 

The  nest  is  usually  built  at  a  height  of  two  to  four  feet  from  the  ground,  in  the 
top  of  a  cluster  of  reeds  or  in  a  low  bush,  and  is  composed  of  reed-leaves,  bark 
strips,  pine  needles,  and  similar  materials,  lined  with  fine  grass  and  roots.  The 
eggs  are  three  or  four  in  number,  laid  in  May  or  occasionally  in  June,  and  have  a 
white  ground-color,  spotted  and  speckled,  chiefly  near  the  larger  end,  with  brown 
and  gray.  Size  .70  x  .55. 


FIG.  250.     HOODED  WARBLER. 

The  Hooded  Warbler  is  another  species  that  habitually  wags  its  tail,  and  it  also 
has  a  habit,  shared  by  some  other  warblers,  as  the  Redstart  and  Magnolia  Warbler, 
of  opening  and  shutting  the  tail,  which  alternately  exhibits  and  hides  the  white 
blotches  on  the  outer  tail-feathers. 

In  common  with  the  other  members  of  the  genus,  it  has  the  bill  broad  and  de- 
pressed at  the  base,  and  this  character,  added  to  the  fact  that  it  is  provided  with 
bristles  at  the  gape,  gives  force  to  the  name  "Fly-catching  Warbler,"  by  which  it 
is  sometimes  called. 

311.  Wilsonia  pusilla  pusilla  (Wils.).  WILSON'S  WARBLER;  WILSON'S 
BLACKCAP. 

Description. — Clear  yellow  olive,  forehead,  sides  of  head,  and  whole  underparts  bright  yel- 
low; crown  black  in  adult  male,  the  black  usually  less  distinct  or  even  absent  in  female  and 
young  birds;  no  wing-bars.  Extreme  measurements  of  4  males  from  Raleigh:  L.,  4.75-5.00; 
W.,  2.20-2.25;  T.,  1.95-2.08. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  northern  United  States  northward;  winters 
in  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — -A  rare  transient  visitor  between  Raleigh  and  the  mountains. 

Our  only  records  of  this  species  are  Raleigh,  May  17,  1880;  May  13,  1882; 
May  11,  16,  1893  (H.  H.  and  C.  S.  Brimley);  May  19,  1915  (S.  C.  Bruner);  Dur- 
ham, April  14,  1903  (Seeman);  Weaverville,  May  8,  1890;  May  7,  1884;  and  Sep- 
tember 22  and  25,  1894  (Cairns). 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  307 


FIG.  251.     WILSON'S  WARBLER. 

312.  Wilsonia  canadensis  (Linn.).    CANADA  WARBLER. 

Description:  Ad.  male. — Upperparts,  wings,  and  tail  gray;  no  wing-bars  or  tail-patches;  crown 
spotted  with  black;  line  from  the  bill  to  the  eye  and  underparts  yellow;  sides  of  the  neck  black;  a 
necklace  of  black  spots  across  the  breast;  under  tail-coverts  white;  bill  with  bristles  at  its  base. 
Ad.  female  and  im.  male. — Similar,  but  with  no  black  on  the  head  or  sides  of  the  throat;  necklace 
indicated  by  dusky  spots.  Im.  female. — Similar,  but  with  breast  spots  fainter  or  wanting.  L., 
5.61;  W.,  2.53;  T.,  2.23;  B.  from  N.,  .31.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  wintering  from  Mexico  to  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Breeds  in  portions  of  the  mountain  region,  and  once  found  at  Raleigh 
in  spring. 

A  Canada  Warbler  was  taken  by  H.  H.  Brimley  at  Raleigh,  May  13,  1892,  and 
Bruner  saw  one  at  the  same  place  on  May  18,  1912;  but  all  our  other  records  are 
for  the  mountain  region.  Boynton  records  it  as  tolerably  common  and  breeding  at 
Highlands  in  Macon  County;  and  Cairns  said  it  was  common  on  Craggy  Mountain 
up  to  6,000  feet.  Bruner  found  it  at  Blowing  Rock  on  August  2  and  Septem- 
ber 16,  1907;  Rhoads  discovered  it  breeding  on  Roan  Mountain  in  June,  1895,  from 
3,000  to  4,000  feet  elevation.  Pearson  reported  it  at  Asheville  July  20,  1902.  In 
the  summer  of  1911  Bruner  and  Feild  observed  the  species  on  Roan  Mountain, 
Grandfather  Mountain  and  six  miles  southeast  of  Linville,  the  last  named  place 
being  at  an  elevation  of  3,750  feet.  The  earliest  date  for  the  State  is  April  29, 
1886,  at  Highlands,  and  the  latest  October  10  at  Weaverville. 

The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground  in  underbrush,  in  such  situations  as  the  side  of 
a  log  or  at  the  foot  of  a  bush,  and  is  composed  of  dry  weeds  and  fine  roots  with  a 
lining  of  hair.  The  eggs  are  four  or  five,  white  or  buffy,  speckled  or  spotted  with 
brown  and  gray,  chiefly  round  the  larger  end.  Size  .68  x  .51. 

Genus  Setophaga  (Swains.) 

313.  Setophaga  ruticilla  (Linn.).    REDSTART. 

Description. — Male  black,  the  sides  of  breast  and  large  blotches  on  wings  and  tail  orange  red; 
belly  white;  female  olive,  marked  with  yellow  instead  of  red;  y9ung  males  like  female,  but  with 
more  or  less  traces  of  black.  Extreme  measurements  of  97  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  4.95—5.50:  W.. 
2.25-2.65;  T.,  2.08-3.35. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  wintering  in  Mexico,  Central  and  South  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Summer  visitor  in  central  portion  and  in  mountain  valleys,  transient 
only  in  the  eastern  section. 

The  Redstart,  though  apparently  not  found  in  summer  in  the  east,  is  a  common 
summer  visitor  in  central  North  Carolina,  arriving  from  the  south  early  in  April 


308  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


and  leaving  early  in  October.  It  frequents  wooded  streams  particularly,  and  often 
builds  its  nest  in  birches  and  other  lowland  growth.  The  eggs  are  four,  usually 
laid  about  the  middle  of  May,  and  are  white  in  ground-color,  speckled  and  spotted 
with  various  shades  of  brown  and  gray,  chiefly  around  the  larger  end.  Size  .63  x  .48. 
The  nest  is  a  compact,  cup-shaped  structure,  made  of  shreds  of  plants  and  fibers 
held  together  with  spiders'  webs  and  lined  with  fine  grass  and  hair.  The  nest  may 
be  placed  in  a  fork,  or  saddled  on  a  horizontal  limb,  at  a  height  of  five  to  forty 
feet  from  the  ground. 

The  male  Redstart  almost  invariably  spreads  his  tail  when  flying,  and  thus  ex- 
hibits the  conspicuous  orange  patches  which  it  bears. 

At  Raleigh  many  of  the  breeding  males  are  found  to  be  in  immature  plumage 
with  little  or  no  black,  which  fact  is  said  to  be  an  indication  of  the  species  being 
near  the  limit  of  its  breeding  range. 

52.    FAMILY  MOTACILLID>£.     WAGTAILS  AND  PIPITS 

Genus  Anthus  (Bechst.) 
314.  Anthus  rubescens  (Tunst.).    PIPIT. 

Description:  Ads.  in  winter. — Outer  tail-feather  largely  white,  next  one  or  two  white-tipped. 
Above  warm  grayish  brown;  wing-coverts  tipped  with  whitish  or  buffy;  longest  tertial  longer 
than  fifth  primary;  a  whitish  or  buffy  line  over  eye;  below  buffy  (whitish  just  before  spring  molt), 
breast  and  sides  streaked  with  fuscous;  hind  toe-nail  longest,  as  long  as  or  longer  than  its  toe. 
After  spring  molt  upperparts  grayer,  underparts  more  pinkish  buff;  but  these  colors  fade  as 
breeding  season  advances.  L.,  6.38;  W.,  3.50;  T.,  2.69;  B.,  .47.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  far  northward  and  in  the  higher  Rocky  Mountains. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter. 


FIG.  252.     PIPIT. 


The  Pipit  or  Titlark,  locally  called  "Skylark,"  is  an  irregular  winter  visitor  in 
eastern  and  central  North  Carolina  from  the  latter  part  of  October  to  about  the 
end  of  March.  While  here  it  travels  in  large  flocks,  frequenting  open  fields,  where 
the  surface  of  the  ground  is  comparatively  bare.  Its  gait  is  a  walk,  not  a  hop,  and 
it  wags  its  tail  continually  as  it  moves. 

In  the  mountain  region  it  would  appear  to  be  a  transient  rather  than  a  winter 
visitor,  as  Cairns  records  it  from  Buncombe  County  only  in  spring  and  fall,  and 
at  Andrews  it  has  been  noted  from  October  29  to  December  15  in  autumn,  and 
February  21  to  March  22  in  spring. 


Plate  22 


CANADA  WARBLER.     Wilsonia  canadensis   (Linn.)      Upper. 
REDSTART.      SetopKaga  rutidlla    (Linn.)      Male  and  female,  lower 


310 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


summer,  and  occasionally  makes  itself  somewhat  of  a  nuisance  in  the  strawberry 
patch  or  the  vineyard.  The  Mockingbird's  good  habits,  nevertheless,  far  outweigh 
any  evil  it  may  do,  and  it  is  well  worthy  of  the  protection  it  receives  in  the  State 
by  law  and  by  the  the  still  stronger  safeguard  of  public  opinion. 


FIG.  253.     MOCKINGBIRD. 


Genus  Dumetella  (S.  D.  W.) 
316.  Dumetella  carolinensis  (Linn.}.    CATBIRD. 

Description. — Dark  slaty  gray;  crown  and  tail  black;  under  tail-coverts  chestnut.  Extreme 
measurements  of  10  Raleigh  specimens:  L.,  8.35-9.12;  W.,  3.35-3.75;  T.,  3.50-4.08. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  wintering  in  the  southern  United  States  and  southward. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  wintering  in  the  eastern  section. 

The  Catbird  arrives  in  the  central  and  western  portions  of  this  State  about  the 
close  of  the  third  week  in  April,  and  leaves  us  late  in  October.  At  Raleigh  it  has 
been  observed  by  H.  H.  and  C.  S.  Brimley  four  times  in  winter  during  twenty-six 
years  of  observation.  We  have  no  winter  records  of  it  farther  west.  In  the  east 
Dr.  Smithwick  says  he  has  observed  it  in  mild  winters  in  Beaufort  and  Bertie 
counties,  but  does  not  think  it  always  remains.  Sherman  saw  a  number  near  Lake 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  311 


Mattamuskeet  in  January,  1910,  and  Pearson  has  found  it  common  in  winter  on 
the  coast  at  various  points  from  Beaufort  southward. 

This  bird  is  one  of  our  most  abundant  and  familiar  species  in  the  summer. 
Thickets  along  streams,  orchards,  and  low  shrubbery  seem  to  delight  the  Catbird, 
and  in  such  places  it  builds  its  nest  in  briars,  vines,  or  trees.  Rarely  the  nest  is 
placed  in  trees  fifty  or  sixty  feet  from  the  ground  (Pearson  and  Bruner).  The 
nest  is  constructed  of  weed  stems,  grass,  leaves,  small  twigs,  and  similar  materials. 
In  it  are  laid  some  time  in  the  months  of  May,  June,  and  July  three  or  four  deep 
bluish-green,  unmarked  eggs.  Size  .95  x  .71. 


FIG.  254.     CATBIRD. 

The  Catbird  is  quite  an  agreeable  singer,  although  frequently  mingling  with  his 
song  unmusical  mews  and  other  disagreeable  notes.  The  name  is  derived  from  its 
cat-like  calls,  and  so  exact  are  these  imitations  in  some  individuals  that  C.  S.  Brim- 
ley  has  seen  kittens  misled  by  them. 

The  food  of  the  Catbird  consists  of  insects  and  soft  fruits,  and  it  is  sometimes 
a  pest  in  one's  strawberry  patch.  C.  S.  Brimley  states  that  on  two  or  three  occa- 
sions he  has  found  a  Cardinal's  nest  containing  freshly  broken  eggs,  which  he  had 
strong  reasons  to  believe  were  attributable  to  a  Catbird's  depredations. 

Genus  Toxostoma  (Wagl.) 

317.  Toxostoma  rufum  (Linn.).    BROWN  THRASHER. 

Description. — Upperparts,  wings,  and  tail  rufous;  wing-coverts  tipped  with  whitish;  under- 
parts  white  (buffy  in  fall),  heavily  streaked  with  black  or  cinnamon,  except  on  throat  and  middle 
of  belly.  L.,  11.42;  W.,  4.06;  T.,  5.03;  B.,  .96.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  wintering  in  southern  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer,  wintering  regularly  in  the  eastern  section, 
and  irregularly  in  the  central  portion. 

The  Thrasher,  "Brown  Thrush,"  or  "Rusty  Mockingbird,"  is  a  common  summer 
resident  throughout  North  Carolina,  reaching  us  from  the  south  about  the  end  of 
March  or  the  beginning  of  April,  and  usually  departing  in  October.  In  most  parts 
of  the  State  a  few  appear  to  pass  the  winter.  Pearson  found  one  at  Chapel  Hill, 
Orange  County,  on  January  2,  1899,  and  in  the  eastern  section  it  is  resident  the 
entire  year. 


312  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


It  is  a  shy,  retiring  bird,  with  a  fine  voice,  but  is  so  unobtrusive  in  its  habits 
that  the  song  is  often  credited  by  the  uninformed  to  its  cousin,  the  Mockingbird. 

The  nest  is  built  in  thick  cover  usually  near  the  ground;  once  we  found  one  on 
the  third  rail  from  the  top  of  an  old  worm-fence.  It  is  constructed  of  twigs,  weed 
stems,  and  dead  leaves,  and  is  usually  lined  with  roots.  The  eggs  are  laid  from 
late  April  to  early  July,  and  are  three  or  four  in  number.  They  have  a  whitish, 
pale  buff,  or  pale  greenish  ground-color,  thickly  speckled  all  over  with  minute 
specks  of  reddish  brown.  Size  1.08  x  .80. 


FIG.  255.     BROWN  THRASHER. 

One  curious  habit  of  this  bird  is  to  scratch  or  rake  among  dead  leaves  with  its 
bill,  which  it  uses  effectively,  tossing  the  leaves  about  in  merry  mood  while  search- 
ing for  insects. 

54.    FAMILY  TROGLODYTID>E.     WRENS 

This  is  a  family  of  small  birds,  with  plain  color  and  nervous  activity.  Some 
of  them  show  a  strong  liking  for  the  vicinity  of  human  habitations,  while  others 
prefer  to  dwell  in  dense  woods  or  swamps. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Back  without  streaks.     See  2. 

1.  Back  streaked  with  black  and  white.     Marsh  Wrens.     See  5. 

2.  No  distinct  superciliary  stripe      See  3. 

2.  A  distinct  white  superciliary  stripe.     See  4. 

3.  Tail  more  than  three-fourths  length  of  wing.     Troglodytes. 

3.  Tail  very  short,  less  than  three-fourths  length  of  wing.     Nannus. 

4.  Tail-feathers  all  brown,  barred  with  darker.     Thryothorus. 

4.  Tail-feathers   mostly   black,    tipped   with  whitish.     Thryomanes. 

5.  A  white  superciliary  line.     Telmatodytes. 
5.  No  white  superciliary  line.     Cistothorus. 

Except  Telmatodytes,  which  has  two  and  possibly  three  representatives  in  the 
State,  none  of  these  genera  is  represented  in  eastern  North  America  by  more  than 
a  single  species. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


313 


Genus  Thryothorus  (Vieill.) 
318.    Thryothorus  ludovicianus  ludovicianus  (Lath.}.    CAROLINA  WREN. 

Description. — Above  bright  rufous  or  rufous-brown  without  bars  or  streaks;  feathers  of  rump  with 
concealed  downy  white  spots;  a  long,  conspicuous  whitish  or  buffy  line  over  eye;  wings  and  tail 
rufous-brown,  finely  barred  with  black;  underparts  ochraceous-buff  or  cream-buff,  whiter  on 
the  throat;  flanks  sometimes  with  a  few  blackish  bars.  Worn  breeding  plumage  is  dingier  above 
and  whiter  below.  The  largest  of  our  wrens.  L.,  5.50;  W.,  2.30;  T.,  2.00;  B.,  .60.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — The  whole  State  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 


Fia.  256.      CAROLINA  WEEN. 

The  Carolina  Wren  is  one  of  our  best  known  birds  at  all  seasons  in  all  parts  of 
the  State.  Ever  restless,  and  constantly  shifting  its  position  while  being  observed, 
it  is  a  bird  of  decidedly  striking  personality.  It  is  found  along  streams,  in  shady 
woodlands,  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  houses,  where  it  is  the  common  "House 
Wren"  of  the  State,  excepts  in  parts  of  the  mountain  region,  where  it  shares  that 
distinction  with  the  Bewick's  Wren.  It  is  the  largest  of  the  North  Carolina  wrens. 

The  nest  is  built  in  a  bank  or  in  almost  any  convenient  nook  about  buildings. 
Pearson  has  found  them  situated  in  the  pocket  of  an  old  overcoat  left  hanging  on 


314  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


a  back  veranda,  in  a  tin  wash-basin  on  the  mantel  of  a  negro's  deserted  cabin,  in  a 
broken  gourd  carelessly  tossed  on  a  grape-arbor,  and  in  a  cap  hanging  against  the 
latticed  wall  of  an  outhouse.  The  nest  may  be  placed  also  in  holes  in  banks  along 
roads,  among  the  tangled  roots  of  upturned  trees,  and  under  brush-piles.  It  is  a 
bulky  affair,  composed  of  grass,  dead  leaves,  moss,  cotton,  rootlets,  or  any  other 
convenient  and  desirable  material.  Sometimes  it  is  partly  domed  over.  Laying 
usually  begins  in  early  April,  and  from  four  to  six  egg'  are  deposited.  These  are 
whitish  in  color,  thickly  sprinkled  with  brownish  spots  all  over.  Size  .72  x  .56. 
Apparently  this  wren  regularly  raises  two  broods. 

The  song  is  loud  and  ringing  and  is  kept  up  throughout  the  whole  year,  which, 
so  far  as  we  are  aware,  is  not  the  case  with  any  other  of  our  birds.  Its  notes  are 
translated  by  some  of  our  people  into  the  words,  "jo-reeper,  jo-reeper,  jo-ree," 
while  others  translate  the  song  into  the  words  "freedom,  freedom,  freedom."  Some- 
times it  is  called  the  "Mocking  Wren."  All  winter  long,  no  matter  how  deep  the 
snow,  you  may  hear  the  singing  of  this  wren,  especially  on  bright,  clear  days. 

This  wren  has  no  undesirable  qualities,  and  is  eminently  deserving  of  the  fullest 
protection.  Probably  domestic  cats  are  its  worst  enemies. 

Genus  Thryomanes  (Scl.) 
319.  Thryomanes  bewicki  bewicki  (And.}.    BEWICK'S  WREN. 

Description. — Above  dark  cinnamon-brown  without  bars  or  streaks;  feathers  of  rump  with 
concealed,  downy,  white  spots;  outer  vane  of  primaries  little  if  at  all  barred;  central  tail-feathers 
grayish-brown,  barred,  at  least  on  sides,  with  black;  outer  ones  black,  tipped  with  grayish;  the 
outer  one  or  two  with  more  or  less  bars  on  the  outer  vane;  a  white  or  buffy  line  over  eye;  under- 
parts  grayish  white;  flanks  brownish.  L.,  5.00;  W.,  2.30;  T.,  2.10;  B.,  .50.  (Chap.,  Birds  of 
E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  mainly  west  of  the  Alleghanies. 

Range  in  North  Carolina.— Summer  visitor  in  the  mountain  region;  winter  visitor  in  the  central 
region. 

This  wren  is  known  to  be  a  common  summer  visitor  in  the  mountains,  arriving 
there  about  the  end  of  March.  Elsewhere  in  the  State  it  has  been  recorded  only 
from  Statesville  and  Raleigh.  At  the  latter  place  it  is  a  rare  but  regular  winter 
visitor,  confining  itself  almost  entirely  within  the  city  limits,  and  has  been  observed 
as  early  as  September  24  and  as  late  as  April  3. 

In  the  mountains  it  is  far  more  common,  being  apparently  confined  to  the 
neighborhood  of  human  habitations,  particularly  in  the  small  towns  of  that  region. 
The  localities  from  which  we  have  records  are  Andrews,  Blantyre,  Blowing  Rock, 
Asheville,  Weaverville,  Morganton,  Highlands,  and  Sunburst,  Haywood  County. 

The  nest  is  similar  to  that  of  the  Carolina  Wren,  and  is  built  in  as  great  a  variety 
of  situations.  The  eggs  also  resemble  those  of  that  species,  but  are  smaller,  aver- 
aging in  size  about  .64  x  .49,  and  are  also  less  heavily  colored.  According  to  Cairns, 
it  nests  in  Buncombe  County  in  early  April,  and  C.  S.  Brimley  found  a  nest  con- 
taining young  birds  at  Blantyre  in  early  May,  1908. 

This  species  is  most  easily  recognized  by  its  small  size  and  long  black  tail.  It  is 
a  very  fine  singer,  the  notes  at  times  somewhat  suggesting  those  of  the  Song  Spar- 
row, but  they  are  more  musical. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


315 


FIG.  257.     BEWICK'S  WREN. 


Genus  Troglodytes  (Vieill.) 
320.  Troglodytes  sedon  aedon  (Vieill.).    HOUSE  WREN. 

Description. — Above  cinnamon  olive-brown,  more  rufous  on  the  rump  and  tail;  back  generally 
with  indistinct  bars;  feathers  of  the  rump  with  concealed,  downy  white  spots;  wings  and  tail 
finely  barred;  below  grayish  white,  flanks  rusty,  sides  and  flanks  usually,  breast  rarely,  under 
tail-coverts  always  barred  with  blackish.  L.,  5.00;  W.,  1.97;  T.,  1.71;  B.,  .50.  (Chap.,  Birds 
of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  nesting  from  Virginia  northward;  wintering  in  Southern 
States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Spring  and  fall  transient  only. 

The  House  Wren  of  the  North  is  known  in  our  State  only  as  a  rare  transient, 
having  been  noted  from  April  11  to  May  4  in  spring,  and  from  September  24  to 
October  16  in  fall  (1885-1908).  So  far,  it  has  been  recorded  only  from  Hyde, 
Wake,  Orange,  and  Buncombe  counties. 

The  nesting  habits  are  said  to  be  similar  to  those  of  the  two  preceding  species. 
It  may  reasonably  be  expected  to  breed  in  portions  of  the  mountain  region,  but  no 
one  has  yet  recorded  it  from  any  part  of  the  State  in  summer.  Like  most  of  the 
family,  it  is  a  pleasing  songster. 


316 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


FIG.  258.     HOUSE  WREN. 


Genus  Nannus  (Billb.) 
321.  Nannus  hiemalis  hiemalis  (VieilL).    WINTER  WREN. 

Description. — Deep  reddish  brown,  waved  with  dusky;  wings,  tail,  and  belly  posteriorly, 
barred  with  darker.  L.,  3.75-4.20;  W.,  1.65-2.00;  T.,  1.00-1.30. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  the  northern  United  States  northward,  and 
in  the  higher  mountains.  Winters  in  the  greater  part  of  the  eastern  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Winter  visitor  throughout  the  State.  Breeds  on  some  of  our  highest 
mountains. 


FIG.  259.     WINTER  WEEN. 


This  species,  easily  known  from  our  other  wrens  by  its  dark  color,  small  size, 
and  ridiculously  short  tail,  arrives  late  in  September  or  early  in  October,  and 
does  not  leave  until  late  in  April.  On  some  of  the  higher  mountains,  however,  it 
remains  throughout  the  summer.  Thus,  Cairns  records  it  as  breeding  on  Black 
Mountain;  Rhoads  found  it  in  June,  1895,  in  the  fir  belt  of  Roan  Mountain;  Sher- 
man heard  one  singing  on  Grandfather  Mountain  at  5,000  feet  elevation  in  late 
June,  1909;  and,  finally,  Pearson  heard  two  singing  on  Mount  Mitchell  on  August 
8,  1903,  at  an  elevation  of  6,500  feet. 

The  nest  is  placed  in  the  hollows  of  low  stumps  in  damp  situations,  or  in  tangled 
piles  of  fallen  trees  and  limbs.  It  is  constructed  of  small  twigs,  interwoven  with 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  317 


moss  and  dead  leaves,  and  warmly  lined  with  feathers.  The  eggs  average  about 
.69  x  .49,  and  are  clear  white,  spotted  with  reddish-brown  and  purple,  chiefly  near 
the  larger  end. 

The  Winter  Wren  is  common  along  wooded  streams  and  in  shady  woods,  occa- 
sionally even  venturing  into  our  yards  and  gardens.  It  is  an  exceedingly  alert 
little  bird,  with  its  stumpy  tail  usually  seen  sticking  up  at  right  angles  to  its  back. 
As  it  hops  rapidly  along  a  fence  rail  or  through  a  brush-pile,  it  may  almost  be 
mistaken  for  a  hurrying  mouse.  The  song  is  exceedingly  sweet. 

Genus  Cistothorus  (Cab.) 
322.  Cistothorus  stellaris  (Naum.}.    SHORT-BILLED  MARSH  WREN. 

Description. — Entire  upperparts  streaked  with  white,  black,  and  ochraceous-buff,  wings  and 
tail  barred;  underparts  unbarred,  white;  under  tail-coverts,  flanks,  and  a  more  or  less  broken 
band  across  breast  ochraceous-buff.  L.,  4.00;  W.,  1.75;  T.,  1.41.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range.— Eastern  United  States,  wintering  in  Gulf  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  known  as  a  rare  transient. 


FIG.  260.     SHORT-BILLED  MARSH  WREN. 


Our  only  records  for  this  little  Marsh  Wren  in  North  Carolina  are  as  follows: 
Raleigh,  May  4,  1894;  August  10,  1894;  September  20,  1893  (H.  H.  and  C.  S. 
Brimley);  Fort  Macon,  one  taken  October  1,  1869  (Coues);  Weaverville,  October 
14  to  22,  1890  (Cairns);  Pungo  Bluff,  Hyde  County,  a  few  seen  by  Maynard,  No- 
vember 13,  1876;  Juniper  Bay,  Hyde  County,  common  on  November  15  and  16, 
1876  (Maynard).  (The  last  two  records  are  taken  from  Smithwick's  Catalogue 
of  the  Birds  of  North  Carolina.) 


318  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Genus  Telmatodytes  (Cab.) 

Two  subspecies  of  the  Long-billed  Marsh  Wrens  occur  in  North  Carolina,  while 
another  may  also  reach  our  southern  border,  as  it  occurs  in  South  Carolina. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES  AND  SUBSPECIES 

1.  White  of  lower  parts  usually  continuous  from  chin  to  under  tail-coverts.     Long-billed  Marsh 
Wren. 

1.  White  of  lower  parts  usually  interrupted  by  a  band  of  dusky  grayish  or  reddish  spots,  or 

clouding,  across  breast.     See  2. 

2.  Black  of  upperparts  usually  deeper  and  more  extended,  frequently  covering  the  entire  crown, 

nape  and  most  of  the  back.     Marian's  Marsh  Wren. 

2.  Black  of  upperparts  much  duller  and  less  extended,  usually  confined  to  the  sides  of  the  crown, 
and  a  short  narrow  area  in  the  middle  of  the  back.     Worlhington's  Marsh  Wren. 

323.  Telmatodytes  palustris  palustris  (Wils.).    LONG-BILLED  MARSH  WREN. 

Description. — Crown  unstreaked,  its  sides  black,  its  center  olive-brown,  a  white  line  over  eye; 
middle  of  back  black,  broadly  streaked  with  white;  rest  of  back  cinnamon-brown;  middle  tail- 
feathers  narrowly,  outer  tail-feathers  broadly  barred;  below  white,  the  sides  and  flanks  pale 
cinnamon-brown  sometimes  extending  to  breast;  under  tail-coverts  rarely  barred.  Specimens  in 
worn  breeding  plumage  are  grayer.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  wintering  in  Gulf  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Transient  in  the  central  and  western  portions;  winter  visitor  along 
the  coast. 


FIG.  261.     LONG-BILLED  MARSH  WHEN. 

At  Raleigh  this  species  has  been  observed  from  April  21  to  May  7  in  spring, 
and  from  September  20  to  October  19  in  autumn,  and  also  on  January  14  and  30, 
1890;  March  17,  1888;  and  March  13  and  18,  1889;  while  in  the  mountains  at 
Weaverville  our  dates  are  in  fall  only,  viz.,  from  September  22  to  October  31 
(Cairns).  On  the  coast  Bishop  has  noticed  that  a  few  pass  the  winter  on  Pea  and 
Bodie  islands. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  319 


This  is  distinctly  a  marsh-bird.  At  Raleigh  the  species  is  sometimes  quite  com- 
mon in  the  spring  migrations,  and  occasionally  also  in  the  fall.  Coues  called  it 
abundant  during  migrations  at  Fort  Macon,  in  the  early  seventies,  and  states  that 
no  nests  were  observed.  Only  one  form  of  the  Long-billed  Marsh  Wren  was  then 
recognized,  so  we  cannot  be  certain  to  what  variety  his  notes  refer. 

The  nests  are  globular  and  about  the  size  of  a  cocoanut.  The  opening  is  on  the 
side,  and  the  nests  are  built  among  bunches  of  reeds,  rushes,  or  cattails,  the  birds 
constructing  many  more  nests  than  they  actually  use.  The  eggs  are  very  dark, 
being  so  thickly  marked  with  brown  as  to  appear  of  a  uniform  chocolate  color. 
Size  .65  x  .55. 

Worthington's  Marsh  Wren,  Telmatodytes  palustris  griseus  (Brewst.),  is  a  subspecies  of  the 
Long-billed  Marsh  Wren,  being  much  paler,  with  the  black  of  the  upperparts  and  the  white  of  the 
lower  parts  more  restricted.  The  brown  of  the  flanks  and  sides  is  pale  and  grayish.  This  form 
breeds  on  the  coast  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  and  perhaps  occurs  also  in  North  Carolina. 

324.  Telmatodytes  palustris  marianse  (Scott}.   MARIAN'S  MARSH  WREN. 

Description. — Similar  to  palustris,  but  smaller,  with  the  upperparts  darker,  the  sides  and 
flanks  more  heavily  washed  and  of  about  the  same  color  as  rump;  the  under  tail-coverts,  and 
sometimes  sides  and  breast  barred  or  spotted  with  black.  W.,  1.80;  T.,  1.50;  B.,  .52. 

Remarks. — The  amount  of  black  above  is  variable  and  the  general  tone  of  color  in  some  speci- 
mens closely  approaches  that  of  palustris,  from  which,  however,  the  heavily  barred  under  tail- 
coverts  separate  this  race.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Portions  of  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  Coast  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Part  or  all  of  the  salt-marshes  of  the  coast. 

Marian's  Marsh  Wren  has  been  reported  from  Pea  and  Bodie  islands,  where 
Bishop  records  it  as  a  resident,  breeding  in  late  May  and  June.  Pearson  took  two 
specimens  on  Gull  Shoal  Island  in  Pamlico  Sound,  May  28,  1898,  and  found  the 
species  abundant  and  nesting  there;  he  took  another  at  Old  Topsail  Inlet,  August  2, 
1898.  He  heard  marsh  wrens  singing  near  Southport  on  June  9,  1898,  and  found 
a  nest  of  three  eggs,  but  the  birds  were  not  identified. 

The  nesting  habits  are  similar  to  the  preceding  species. 

55.    FAMILY  CERTHIID>£.      CREEPERS 

A  family  of  small  arboreal  birds,  mainly  belonging  to  the  Old  World.  One 
genus  is  represented  in  North  America  by  a  single  species. 

Genus  Certhia  (Linn.) 

Contains  species  with  slender  decurved  bill,  and  with  the  tail-feathers  acute  and 
stiffened  somewhat  like  those  of  a  woodpecker.  The  single  American  species  is 
represented  by  several  subspecies,  one  of  which  occurs  with  us. 

325.  Certhia  familiaris  americana  (Bonap.}.    BROWN  CREEPER. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts  mixed  with  white,  fuscous,  and  ochraceous-buff;  rump  pale 
rufous;  tail  pale  grayish  brown;  a  band  of  cream-buff  through  all  but  outer  wing-feathers;  bill 
curved;  tail-feathers  stiffened  and  sharply  pointed;  underparts  white.  L.,  5.66;  W.,  2.56:  T.. 
2.65;  B.,  .63.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter,  and  breeds  on  the  higher  mountains. 


320 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Except  on  the  highest  mountains,  the  Brown  Creeper  is  only  a  winter  visitor  in 
North  Carolina,  arriving  early  in  October  and  leaving  about  the  middle  of  April. 
In  parts  of  the  mountain  region  it  resides  throughout  the  year,  breeding  on  the 
higher  ranges  and  wintering  in  the  valleys.  Rhoads  observed  it  on  Roan  Mountain 
in  June,  1895;  Brewster  on  Black  Mountain  and  near  Highlands  in  late  May, 
1884;  and  Feild  and  Bruner  saw  young  birds  on  Grandfather  Mountain  June  24, 
1911.  It  was  also  seen  by  C.  S.  Brimley  at  Double  Spring  Gap,  Hay  wood  County, 
May  25,  1913. 


FIG.  262.     BROWN  CREEPER. 


According  to  Cairns,  they  nest  in  Buncombe  County  in  May,  selecting  knot-holes 
and  natural  cavities  of  trees  for  the  purpose.  Five  or  six  eggs  are  laid.  LeMoyne 
found  a  nest  May  15,  1886,  behind  the  loose  bark  in  the  dead  top  of  a  spruce  in 
the  Great  Smoky  Mountains,  just  across  the  Tennessee  border  from  North  Carolina. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  321 


It  was  composed  of  a  mass  of  lichens,  moss,  feathers,  grass,  and  a  few  rootlets. 
The  eggs  were  five  in  number,  much  resembling  those  of  the  Chickadee,  but  slightly 
smaller.  Another  set  of  six,  brought  to  him  by  a  lad  and  said  to  have  been  found 
in  a  nest  placed  in  the  crevice  of  one  of  the  logs  of  a  fence,  were  profusely  spotted 
with  brown  spots.  Size  .59  x  .47.  (See  "Notes  on  Some  Birds  of  the  Great  Smoky 
Mountains,"  Ornithologist  and  Oologist,  Dec.,  1886,  p.  179.) 

This  is  a  curious  little  bird  which  uses  its  stiff  tail-feathers  for  support  while 
climbing  trees,  much  after  the  manner  of  a  woodpecker.  It  always  keeps  working 
upward,  and  upon  reaching  a  point  among  the  limbs  it  flies  to  the  base  of  another 
tree  and  again  starts  to  climb  aloft. 

56.    FAMILY  SITTID.XE.      NUTHATCHES 

This  is  a  small  family  of  arboreal  birds,  with  short,  soft  tail-feathers,  rather 
long,  straight  bills,  long  wings,  and  strong  claws,  which  aid  in  climbing.  The  nasal- 
tufts  are  well  developed.  The  principal  genus  is  the  one  which  occurs  in  North 
America. 

Genus  Sitta  (Linn.) 

This  is  an  almost  cosmopolitan  genus,  members  of  which  occur  in  Europe,  Asia, 
and  America.  The  characters  are  the  same  as  those  given  for  the  family. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Top  of  head  brown,  the  color  extending  unbroken  to  the  eyes.     Brown-headed  Nuthatch. 

1.  Top  of  head  black  or  slaty,  the  color  not  extending  unbroken  to  the  eyes.     See  2. 

2.  Sides  of  head  white,  continuous  with  the  white  of  throat.     White-breasted  Nuthatch, 

2.  Sides  of  head  with  a  dark  (black  or  slaty)  stripe,  from  bill  through  eye  and  down  neck,  thus 
separating  white  of  superciliary  region  from  white  of  throat.     Red-breasted  Nuthatch. 

326.  Sitta  carolinensis  carolinensis  (Lath.}.    WHITE-BREASTED  NUTHATCH. 

Description:  Ad.  c". — Top  of  head  shining  black;  rest  of  upperparts  bluish  gray;  inner  secon- 
daries bluish  gray,  marked  with  black;  wing-coverts  and  quills  tipped  with  whitish;  outer  tail- 
feathers  black,  with  white  patches  near  their  tips;  middle  ones  bluish  gray;  sides  of  head  and 
underparts  white;  lower  belly  and  under  tail-coverts  mixed  with  rufous.  Ad.  9 . — Similar,  but 
black  of  head  veiled  by  bluish  gray.  L.,  6.07;  T.,  1.92;  B.,  .70.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Resident  throughout  the  State. 

The  White-breasted  Nuthatch  is  a  common  resident  in  timberlands  throughout 
the  State.  It  also  occurs  in  towns  that  are  blessed  with  large  shade  trees.  Usually 
it  may  be  seen  in  pairs  running  up  and  down  the  trunks  and  larger  limbs,  frequently 
head  downwards  and  always  very  busy.  While  thus  engaged  it  utters  constantly 
its  peculiar  cry  of  quank,  quank. 

This  species  nests  in  the  natural  cavities  of  trees,  or  in  a  hole  excavated  by  the 
bird  itself.  In  this  cavity  a  nest  composed  of  feathers,  hair,  and  dry  leaves  is 
loosely  put  together,  on  which  some  six  eggs  are  laid,  usually  in  this  State  in  April. 
The  eggs  are  white  in  ground-color,  with  somewhat  of  a  rosy  tinge,  and  are  speckled 
and  spotted  with  reddish  brown  and  purple.  Size  .77  x  .56. 

21 


322 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Cairns  says  this  species  nests  early  in  April  in  Buncombe  County,  while  in 
Bertie  County,  near  the  eastern  end  of  the  State,  R.  P.  Smithwick  took  three  nests 
on  April  2,  10,  and  29,  which  were  at  heights  respectively  of  six,  twenty,  and  thirty 
feet.  Pearson  has  found  nests  in  Guilford  County  ranging  from  twenty  inches  to 
forty  feet  from  the  ground. 


FIG.  263.     WHITE-BEEASTED  NUTHATCH. 

The  bill  is  strong,  and  the  bird  will  hammer  the  bark  of  a  tree  with  great  per- 
sistence in  order  to  acquire  possession  of  some  coveted  insect.  All  the  members  of 
this  family  are  among  our  best  friends,  as  they  destroy  vast  quantities  of  insects, 
their  eggs  and  larvae,  which  are  harmful  to  our  forests.  This  nuthatch  also  eats 
seeds,  being  especially  fond  of  those  of  the  sunflower. 

327.  Sitta  canadensis  (Linn.}.    RED-BREASTED  NUTHATCH. 

Description:  Ad.  male. — Top  of  head  and  a  wide  stripe  through  eye  to  nape  shining  black; 
a  white  line  over  eye;  upperparts  bluish  gray,  no  black  marks  on  secondaries,  or  tips  to  wing- 
coverts;  outer  tail-feathers  black,  with  white  patches  near  their  tips;  middle  ones  bluish  gray; 
throat  white;  rest  of  underparts  ochraceous-buff.  Ad.  female. — Similar,  but  top  of  head  and 
stripe  through  the  eye  bluish  gray,  like  the  back;  underparts  paler.  L.,  4.62;  W.,  2.66;  T.,  1.58; 
Bv  .50.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N'.  A.) 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  irregularly  in  winter;  resident  on  some  of  the  higher 
mountains  where  it  breeds. 


FIG.  264.     RED-BKEASTED  NUTHATCH. 


The  Red-breasted  Nuthatch  is  an  irregular  winter  visitor  in  North  Carolina  at 
least  as  far  east  as  Raleigh,  where  it  is  common  some  years  and  rare  or  altogether 
absent  in  others.  It  usually  goes  in  small  bands,  perhaps  composed  of  the  brood 
of  the  previous  year.  In  feeding  it  shows  a  preference  for  the  smaller  branches, 
rather  than  the  trunks  of  trees.  Near  Raleigh  it  has  been  observed  from  September 


Plate  23 


BROWN-HEADED    NUTHATCH.     (Sitta  pusilla   (Lath.)     Male  and  Female. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  323 


15  to  April  15,  and  has  been  noted  in  ten  winters  during  the  past  twenty-four. 
Unless  one  is  observing  birds  pretty  closely,  it  is  easily  overlooked,  the  more  so  as 
it  is  often  local  in  its  occurrence. 

This  nuthatch  has  been  recorded  as  a  rare  resident  at  Highlands  by  Boynton, 
and  as  common  and  breeding  on  Black  Mountain  by  Cairns.  Rhoads  heard  it  on 
Roan  Mountain  in  June,  1895,  and  Collett  tells  us  he  has  seen  two  in  the  Big 
Snowbird  Mountains  in  Graham  County.  C.  S.  Brimley  saw  some  near  Double 
Spring  Gap,  Haywood  County,  on  May  25,  1913.  In  the  summer  of  1911  Bruner 
and  Feild  observed  it  on  both  Roan  Mountain  and  Mount  Mitchell.  Cairns  found 
a  nest  on  Black  Mountain  on  May  10,  1886,  in  a  dead  stub  twenty  feet  from  the 
ground,  and  another  six  feet  up,  each  of  which  contained  four  fresh  eggs. 

It  excavates  its  nesting  cavity  in  a  dead  tree,  and  lines  it  with  grass.  The  eggs 
number  from  four  to  six.  They  have  a  white  ground-color,  very  thickly  spotted 
with  reddish  brown.  Size  .60  x  .50. 

328.  Sitta  pusilla  (Lath.}.    BROWN-HEADED  NUTHATCH. 

Description. — Ashy  blue  above;  whitish  below;  top  of  head  grayish  brown,  a  white  spot  on 
nape;  under  tail-feathers  black,  tipped  with  grayish.  L.,  4.50;  W.,  2.60;  T.,  1.25. 

Range. — South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  north  to  Virginia. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Resident  in  the  central  and  eastern  portions  of  the  State,  not  known 
to  occur  in  the  mountains. 

Throughout  the  State,  east  of  the  mountains,  this  is  the  most  common  nuthatch, 
and  particularly  is  this  the  case  in  pine  woods.  It  is  much  given  to  traveling 
in  bands.  In  spring  a  pair  will  select  some  suitable  fence-post,  tall  stump,  or  dead 
limb,  of  the  proper  degree  of  softness  from  decay,  and  begin  industriously  to  exca- 
vate a  hole  in  which  to  nest.  Several  holes  may  be  commenced  and  abandoned 
before  one  entirely  to  their  taste  is  found.  The  final  choice  is  dug  to  a  depth  of 
about  six  inches  below  the  irregular  entrance  hole,  and  this  is  lined  with  strips  of 
bark,  chips,  leaves,  cotton,  and  the  wings  of  the  seeds  of  pine.  The  peculiar  pun- 
gent odor  of  the  bird  is  imparted  to  the  nest.  The  eggs  are  four  to  six  in  number, 
usually  laid  about  the  end  of  March  or  beginning  of  April,  though  belated  nests 
have  been  taken  as  late  as  May  15.  Their  ground  color  is  white,  spotted  heavily 
with  reddish  brown  and  lavender,  the  markings  being  usually  rather  evenly  dis- 
tributed. Size  .60  x  .50.  The  height  of  the  nest  varies  from  eighteen  inches  to 
twelve  feet  from  the  ground.  Pearson  found  a  pair  of  these  birds  excavating  a 
nesting  hole  in  a  pine  stump  in  open  woods  near  Greensboro,  on  May  5,  1893. 

"I  made  some  notes  in  1888  on  the  time  occupied  by  this  species  in  preparing 
dwellings  for  occupation.  The  first  pair  I  noted  had  finished  digging  out  the  hole 
and  had  commenced  to  line  it  on  March  22.  Sixteen  days  later  the  nest  contained 
four  fresh  eggs.  Pair  No.  2  had  just  begun  building  on  April  16,  and  in  ten  days 
more  the  nest  was  finished  and  fresh  eggs  laid.  Pair  No.  3  worked  for  twenty-two 
days  on  one  hole,  and  when  I  then  lost  patience  and  broke  it  out  to  see  what  they 
had  done,  they  had  not  even  started  to  line  it.  They  then  commenced  on  another 
stump,  and  in  twenty-two  more  days  had  the  excavation  completed,  lined,  and  three 
eggs  laid.  Pair  No.  4  dug  a  hole,  lined  it,  and  laid  three  eggs  in  thirteen  days." — 
C.  S.  BRIMLEY. 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


57.    FAMILY  PARID/E.     TITMICE 

Small  birds,  nearly  allied  to  the  nuthatches,  but  differing  in  having  short,  stout 
bills  and  comparatively  long  tails.  The  family  is  a  cosmopolitan  one.  Two  easily 
distinguished  genera  occur  with  us. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Head  crested;  throat  and  crown  not  black.     Bceolophus. 

1.  Head    not    crested;    throat    and    crown    black.     Penthestes. 

Genus  Baeolophus  (Cab.) 

329.  Bseolophus  bicolor  (Linn.}.     TUFTED  TITMOUSE. 

Description. — Grayish  ash,  whitish  below;  head  crested,  forehead  black,  flanks  tinged  with 
rusty.     L.,  6.00;  W.,  3.00;  T.,  2.70. 
Range. — Eastern  United  States. 
Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons. 


Fia.  265.     TUFTED  TITMOUSE. 

The  Tufted  Titmouse,  so  well  known  by  its  loud,  clear  whistle  and  crested  head, 
is  an  abundant  bird  everywhere  in  North  Carolina,  breeding  from  late  April  to 
early  June.  The  nests  are  placed  in  the  natural  hollows  of  trees.  The  bird  fre- 
quently fills  these  cavities  with  dead  leaves  and  other  material  for  a  depth  of  a 
foot  or  more,  before  building  the  nest  proper,  which  is  composed  of  green  moss 
and  leaves,  lined  with  cotton,  fur,  fine  grass,  or  roots.  The  eggs  are  pure  white  or 
light  cream  in  ground-color,  profusely  speckled  and  spotted  with  different  shades 
of  reddish  brown.  Size  .75  x  .53.  In  number  the  eggs  vary  from  five  to  seven, 
and  are  covered  by  the  bird  when  it  leaves  the  nest.  Cairns  remarks  that  the 
female  does  all  the  building,  and  that  the  male  provides  her  food  while  so  occupied. 
He  also  states  that  when  the  nest  is  disturbed  the  birds  will  remove  the  eggs.  The 
female  is  very  hard  to  flush  from  the  nest,  and  will  often  allow  herself  to  be  caught 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  325 


rather  than  leave  her  eggs.  The  same  authority  further  says  that  out  of  one  hun- 
dred nests  he  examined  the  lowest  was  five  feet,  and  the  highest  sixty-five  feet  from 
the  ground. 

Genus  Penthestes  (Reichenb.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Wing  considerably  longer  than  tail;  greater  wing-coverts  without  distinct  whitish  edging; 

black  of  throat  sharply  defined  behind.     Carolina  Chickadee. 
1.  Wing  little  if  any  longer  than  tail;  greater  wing- coverts  with  distinct  whitish  edgings;  black 

of  throat  more  or  less  broken  behind.     Chickadee. 

330.  Penthestes  atricapillus  atricapillus  (Linn.).    CHICKADEE. 

Description:  Ads. — Top  of  the  head,  nape,  and  throat  shining  black;  sides  of  the  head  and 
neck  white;  back  ashy;  outer  vanes  of  greater  wing-coverts  distinctly  margined  with  white; 
wing  and  tail-feathers  margined  with  whitish;  breast  white;  belly  and  sides  waghed  with  c  eam- 
buff.  L.,  5.27;  W.,  2.53;  T.,  2.43;  B.,  .37.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  mainly  north  of  Virginia. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Resident  on  some  of  the  higher  mountains. 

The  Chickadee  is  the  common  northern  species,  but  in  this  State  and  southward 
it  is  replaced  by  the  next,  except  on  the  higher  mountains. 

So  far,  it  has  been  noted  by  Cairns  as  a  common  resident  on  the  Black  Moun- 
tains in  Buncombe  County  at  an  elevation  of  5,000  feet  and  over;  by  Brewster, 
who  found  it  from  5,000  feet  upward  in  1885;  and  by  Metcalf,  who  heard  the 
birds  on  Jones's  Balsam  Mountain,  near  Waynesville,  at  an  elevation  of  5,000  to 
6,000  feet,  September  17,  1908. 

The  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Carolina  Chicadee,  but  the  notes  are  said 
to  be  decidedly  different. 

331.  Penthestes  carolinensis  carolinensis  (And.}.    CAROLINA  CHICKADEE. 

Description. — Similar  to  the  preceding  species,  but  smaller;  greater  wing-coverts  not  margined 
with  whitish;  wing  and  tail-feathers  with  less  white  on  their  outer  vanes.  L.,  4.06—4.75;  W., 
2.20-2.48;  T.,  1.88-2.12;  B.,  .30-.32.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Southern  States,  from  Virginia  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons,  except,  except  the  summits  of  the  higher 
mountains. 


Fia.  266.     CAROLINA  CHICKADEE. 


The  Carolina  Chickadee  is  the  common  " Tomtit"  of  our  State,  being  abundant 
wherever  trees  and  bushes  abound. 


326  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  nest  is  built  in  a  natural  cavity  in  a  dead  or  living  tree,  or  in  a  hole  dug 
by  the  birds  themselves  in  a  dead  stub  or  stump,  occasionally  even  in  the  aban- 
doned hole  excavated  by  some  other  bird.  The  cavity  is  lined  with  feathers,  fur, 
cotton,  cattail  fluff,  moss,  hair,  bark  strips,  and  similar  materials  matted  rather 
than  woven  together.  It  is  usually  about  six  inches  below  the  entrance  hole,  which 
is  itself  at  a  height  of  from  two  to  twelve  feet  from  the  ground.  The  eggs  number 
four  to  seven,  and  are  white,  sprinkled  with  small  blotches  and  specks  of  reddish 
brown.  Size  .60  x  .50.  April  is  the  usual  month  for  nesting. 

This  is  an  active  little  bird,  and  when  feeding  may  often  be  seen  hanging  back 
downward  on  a  pine-cone,  or  on  a  bunch  of  dead  leaves  caught  in  the  branches. 

58.    FAMILY  SYLVIID>£.     KINGLETS,  GNATCATCHERS,  ETC. 

This  family  contains  many  species  of  small  birds  which  in  the  Old  World  take 
the  place  occupied  in  America  by  the  Wood  Warblers.  In  this  country  it  is  repre- 
sented only  by  the  almost  cosmopolitan  genus  Regulus,  and  the  American  genus 
Polioptila. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Wings   decidedly   longer   than   tail;    color   olivaceous.     Regulus. 
1.  Wings  and  tail  about  equal;  color  ashy  blue.     Polioptila. 

Genus  Regulus  (Cuv.) 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Crown  yellow,  bordered  with  black  in  front  and  on  sides;  male  with  a  central  patch  of  orange 

in  the  middle  of  the  yellow.     Golden-crowned  Kinglet. 
1.  Crown  without  black  or  yellow;  male  with  a  concealed  crown-patch  which  is  usually  bright 

red,  but  very  rarely  yellow.     Ruby-crowned  Kinglet. 

332.  Regulus  satrapa  satrapa"(LicM.).    GOLDEN-CROWNED  KINGLET. 

Description. — Olivaceous  above,  whitish  below;  crown  with  a  yellow  patch  bordsred  with  black 
(orange-red  in  center  in  male);  forehead  and  line  over  eye  whitish.  L.,  4.10;  W.,  2.15;  T.,  1.75. 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Winter  visitor  throughout  the  State;  resident  and  breeds  on  some 
of  the  higher  mountains. 


TIG.  267.     GOLDEN-CROWNED  KINGLET. 


This  is  a  common  winter  visitor  in  this  State,  arriving  about  the  middle  of 
October  and  leaving  in  April.  While  here  it  usually  goes  in  troops,  frequenting 
groves  of  evergreens. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  327 


In  western  North  Carolina  it  is  known  to  breed  on  Black  Mountain  above  the 
fir  belt.  Kopman's  record  of  seeing  one  on  August  24,  1898,  at  Cloudland,  Mitchell 
County,  would  point  to  their  breeding  in  the  vicinity  of  Roan  Mountain.  Feild 
and  Bruner  found  young  birds  on  Grandfather  Mountain  June  24,  1911,  at  an 
elevation  of  5,000  feet.  Birds  were  also  observed  by  them  the  same  year  on  Roan 
Mountain,  July  1,  at  6,100  feet,  and  on  Mount  Mitchell,  July  15,  at  6,500  feet 
elevation.  Sherman  heard  them  at  Double  Spring  Gap  in  Haywood  County,  May 
25,  1913. 

The  nest  of  the  Golden-crowned  Kinglet  is  built  among  the  slender  twigs  of 
spruces  and  perhaps  other  evergreens.  It  is  composed  of  green  mosses,  mixed  with 
lichens,  and  lined  with  delicate  strips  of  soft  inner  bark  and  black  rootlets.  The 
eggs  vary  from  creamy  white  to  very  deep  cream-color,  sprinkled  with  numerous 
brown  markings  of  various  sizes.  Size  .56  x  .44.  The  number  of  eggs  to  the  set 
appears  to  be  usually  nine. 

333.  Regulus  calendula  calendula  (Linn.).    RUBY-CROWNED  KINGLET. 

Description. — Olivaceous  above,  buffy  below;  crown  in  male  with  a  concealed  crown-patch 
which  is  usually  bright  red,  but  very  rarely  yellow;  underparts  whitish,  tail  slightly  forked.  Im. — 
Without  the  crown-patch.  L.,  4.40;  W.,  2.25;  T.,  1.75. 

Range. — North  America,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Winter  visitor  in  the  central  and  eastern  parts  of  the  State,  transient 
in  the  mountains. 


FIG.  268.     RUBY-CROWNED  KINGLET. 

Throughout  most  of  North  Carolina  this  Kinglet  is  a  winter  visitor.  It  never 
goes  in  troops  and  is  more  often  seen  during  the  migrations  than  in  winter.  It 
has  been  found  at  Raleigh  as  early  as  October  1  and  as  late  in  spring  as  May  10. 

In  the  mountains  it  has  been  noted  between  October  6  and  November  6  in  the 
fall  and  between  April  3  and  May  7  in  the  spring  migration. 

This  bird  has  a  habit  of  slightly  fluttering  its  wings  when  hopping  from  twig  to 
twig,  and  this  custom,  together  with  its  pale  orbital  ring,  will  usually  serve  to 
identify  it  in  the  field.  It  is  a  good  singer  and  indulges  much  in  its  musical  abili- 
ties during  late  March  and  early  April. 

The  yellow  crown-patch  appears  to  be  quite  unusual,  as  out  of  forty-four  speci- 
mens taken  at  Raleigh  by  H.  H.  and  C.  S.  Brimley  only  three  were  found  with  any 
yellow  on  the  crown. 


328  BIRDS  OF  XORTH  CAROLINA 

Genus  Polioptila  (Scl.) 
334.  Polioptila  caerulea  cserulea  (Linn.).    BLUE-GRAY  GNATCATCHER. 

Description:  Ad.  male. — Upperparts  bluish  gray;  forehead  and  front  of  the  head  narrowly 
bordered  by  black;  wings  edged  with  grayish,  the  secondaries  bordered  with  whitish;  outer  tail- 
feathers  white,  changing  gradually  until  the  middle  ones  are  black;  underparts  dull  grayish 
white.  Ad.  female. — Similar,  but  without  the  black  on  the  head.  L.,  4.50;  W.,  2.05;  T.,  2.00; 
B.,  .40.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — United  States,  wintering  in  Gulf  States  and  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer. 


FIG.  269.     BLUE-GRAY  GNATCATCHER. 

The  Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher  reaches  the  State  about  the  last  week  in  March,  and 
has  been  recorded  as  late  as  October  2  at  Raleigh,  and  September  9  at  Weaverville. 
This  is  a  common  species  wherever  found,  easily  recognized  by  its  long  black  tail, 
bluish  color,  and  squeaky,  high-pitched  notes.  It  breeds  from  late  April  to  early 
June,  building  its  pretty  lichen-covered  nest  (which  resembles  a  large  model  of 
that  of  the  Ruby-throated  Hummingbird)  on  the  horizontal  limb  of  a  sweet-gum, 
birch,  pine,  oak,  willow,  apple,  ash,  cedar,  or  other  tree.  The  eggs  are  five  or  six 
in  number  and  are  greenish  or  bluish  white  in  ground  color,  speckled  with  chest- 
nut. Size  .57  x  .44.  The  heights  of  nests  we  have  taken  varied  from  five  to  thirty- 
five  feet. 

Pearson  has  found  that  in  Guilford  County  these  birds  show  a  decided  prefer- 
ence for  white-oak  trees  as  nesting  sites.  On  two  occasions  he  has  observed  males 
singing  while  sitting  in  the  nest. 

Although  the  usual  notes  are  not  particularly  attractive,  the  song  is  really  quite 
melodious.  Both  sexes  aid  in  the  construction  of  the  nest. 

Since  the  above  was  written  the  following  note  has  been  received  from  Ludlow 
Griscom:  "One  bird  seen  by  all  three  of  us  (Johnson,  Nicholls  and  the  writer) 
on  December  30  and  31,  1916,  on  Pamunkey  Island  (Currituck  Sound)." 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  329 


59.    FAMILY  TURDID>£.     THRUSHES  AND  BLUEBIRDS 

The  thrushes  constitute  a  large  and  cosmopolitan  family,  represented  by  more 
species  in  the  Old  World  than  in  America.  They  are  mostly  plain-colored,  and 
many  of  them  are  fine  singers,  as  is  well  illustrated  by  the  Wood  Thrush  in  America 
and  the  Song  Thrush  in  Europe. 

KEY  TO  GENERA 

1.  Breast  spotted.     Hylocichla. 

1.  Breast  not  spotted.     See  2. 

2.  Color  not  blue.     Planesticus. 
2.  Color  blue.     Sialia. 

Genus  Hylocichla^  (Baird) 

This  includes  all  those  thrushes  of  our  fauna  which  have  the  breast  spotted  in 
the  adult  as  well  as  in  the  young. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES 

1.  Sides  as  well  as  breast  distinctly  spotted;  ground-color  of  underparts  white.     Wood  Thrush. 

1.  Sides  grayish  or  brownish,  unspotted;  breast  more  or  less  tinged  with  buffy.     See  2. 

2.  Tail  rufous,  in  decided  contrast  with  dull  brown  of  back.     Hermit  Thrush. 

2.  Tail  same  color  as  back.     See  3. 

3.  A  distinct  buffy  orbital  ring.     Olive-backed  Thrush. 

3.  No  lighter  orbital  ring.     See  4. 

4.  Tawny  brown  above;  chest  creamy  buff  with  rather  indistinct  spots.     Veery. 

4.  Olive-brown  above;  chest  pale  buffy,  with  large  distinct  spots.     See  5. 

5.  Length  7.00-7.75;  wing  3.75  or  more.     Gray-cheeked  Thrush. 
5.  Length  6.25-7.25;  wing  about  3.75  or  less.     BicknelVs  Thrush. 


FIG.  270.     WOOD  THRUSH. 

335.  Hylocichla  mustelina  (Gmel.}.    WOOD  THRUSH. 

Description. — Cinnamon  brown,  brightest  on  head  and  becoming  olive  on  the  rump;  breast 
white,  with  large  round  distinct  spots,  except  on  the  throat  and  center  of  belly.  L.,  8.25;  W., 
4.35;  T.,  2.90. 

Range. — Eastern  United  States,  wintering  beyond  our  borders  in  Central  America,  West 
Indies,  etc. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  summer. 


330  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Wood  Thrush,  "Wood  Robin,"  " Swamp  Robin,"  or  "Quillaree,"  arrives  in 
North  Carolina  in  the  forepart  of  April  and  has  been  observed  as  late  as  the  middle 
of  October.  It  breeds  in  May  and  June,  building  its  nest  chiefly  of  weed  stems 
and  leaves  and  plastering  it  inside  with  mud.  The  nest,  as  a  rule,  is  placed  in  a 
small  tree  at  a  height  of  from  three  to  twelve  feet  from  the  ground,  and  in  it  are 
laid  four  greenish-blue,  unspotted  eggs,  which  average  about  1.00  x  .75. 

This  bird  is  a  very  melodious  singer,  the  loud  and  liquid  notes  sounding  particu- 
larly sweet  in  the  early  morning,  and  doubtless  the  mountain  name  "  Quillaree"  is  a 
supposed  imitation  of  its  song.  Pearson  has  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  among 
the  large  trees  on  the  campus  of  the  State  University  at  Chapel  Hill  these  birds 
greatly  outnumber  the  robins,  while  on  the  campus  at  Guilford  College,  where 
apparently  about  the  same  natural  conditions  prevail,  the  reverse  is  the  case. 

336.  Hylocichla  fuscescens  fuscescens  (Steph.).    VEERY. 

Description:  Ads. — Upperparts,  wings,  and  tail  nearly  uniform  cinnamon-brown,  not  so  bright 
as  in  the  Wood  Thrush;  center  of  the  throat  white;  sides  of  the  throat  and  breast  with  a  delicate 
tinge  of  cream-buff,  spotted  with  small  wedge-shaped  spots  of  nearly  the  same  color  as  the  back; 
belly  white;  sides  white,  with  only  a  faint  tinge  of  grayish.  L.,  7.52;  W.,  3.84;  T.,  2.87;  B.,  .53. 

Remarks. — The  Veery's  distinguishing  characters  are:  (1)  its  uniform  cinnamon-brown  upper- 
parts:  (2)  its  delicately  marked  breast;  and  (3)  particularly  its  almost  white  sides.  The  Wood 
Thrush  has  the  sides  heavily  spotted,  and  the  other  thrushes  have  this  part  more  or  less  strongly 
washed  with  grayish  or  brownish.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  North  America  in  summer. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Transient,  except  in  the  mountains,  where  it  is  a  summer  visitor 
above  3,500  feet. 


FIG.  271.    VEBBY. 

The  Veery  or  Wilson's  Thrush  is  a  rare  transient  at  Raleigh  in  May  and  Sep- 
tember, and  has  also  been  observed  at  Chapel  Hill  during  the  migrations. 

In  the  mountains  it  has  been  recorded  as  common  above  3,500  feet  in  Buncombe 
County  (Cairns),  and  nests  there  in  May.  Brewster  found  it  on  Black  Mountain 
and  near  Highlands  in  1884,  at  from  3,500  to  5,000  feet  elevation.  Rhoads  reported 
it  common  on  Roan  Mountain  at  from  3,000  to  5,000  feet  in  June,  1895,  and  saw 
a  pair  nest-building.  Sherman  and  C.  S.  Brimley  collected  one  and  saw  another  on 
Joanna  Bald  Mountain,  near  Andrews,  May  14,  1908,  at  an  elevation  of  4,000 
feet.  Collett  says  it  is  common  on  the  Big  Snowbird  Mountains  in  Graham  County ; 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  331 


Pearson  heard  one  singing  at  Blowing  Rock  in  August,  1905.  The  Veery  seems 
to  prefer  thick,  damp  woods  as  a  usual  habitation. 

The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground  at  the  base  of  a  sapling,  or  occasionally  in  the 
hollow  trunk  of  a  tree  at  some  distance  from  the  ground.  It  is  composed  of  leaves, 
strips  of  bark  and  weed  stems,  and  is  lined  with  black  rootlets.  The  eggs  are  usually 
four,  pale  greenish  blue,  without  markings,  and  measure  about  .87  x  .65. 

The  song  of  the  Veery,  in  common  with  other  species  of  the  genus,  is  exceedingly 
melodious,  and  is  frequently  rendered  late  in  the  evening. 

337.  Hylocichla  alicise  alicise  (Baird.)     GRAY-CHEEKED  THRUSH. 

Description:  Ad. — Upperparts  uniform  olive,  with  little  difference  between  the  colors  of  the 
back  and  tail;  eye-ring  whitish,  lores  grayish;  middle  of  the  throat  and  middle  of  the  belly  white; 
sides  of  the  throat  and  breast  with  a  very  faint  tinge  of  cream-buff  (richer  in  the  fall) ;  the  feathers 
of  the  sides  of  the  throat  spotted  with  wedge-shaped  marks,  those  of  the  breast  with  half-round 
black  marks;  sides  brownish  gray  or  brown'sh  ashy.  L.,  7.58;  W.,  4.09;  T.,  2.96;  B.,  .55. 

Remarks. — The  uniform  olive  of  the  upperparts  of  this  species  at  once  separates  it  from  our 
other  eastern  thrushes,  except  its  subspecies  bicknelli  and  the  olive-backed  Thrush.  From  the 
latter  it  may  be  known  by  the  comparative  absence  of  buff  on  the  breast  and  sides  of  the  throat, 
by  its  whitish  eye-ring  and  grayish  lores.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Northern  North  America,  breeding  far  northward,  and  wintering  in  Central  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Spring  and  fall  transient  throughout  the  State. 


FIG.  272.     GRAYCHEEKED  THRUSH. 

This  species  has  been  observed  at  Fort  Macon  in  April  and  May,  1871  (Coues); 
at  Raleigh,  May  4  to  24;  in  the  fall,  October  2  to  12  (C.  S.  Brimley) ;  and  at  Weaver- 
ville,  September  20-22,  1890  (Cairns). 

It  is  a  dark  and  slender  Thrush,  and  in  measurements  is  very  similar  to  the 
Wood  Thrush,  though  not  in  build. 

338.  Hylocichla  aliciae  bicknelli  (Ridgw.}.    BICKNELL'S  THRUSH. 

Description. — Similar  to  preceding  but  smaller.     L.,  6.25-7.25;  W.,  3.35-3.75;  T.,  2.60-2.70. 
Range. — Higher  mountains  of  eastern  United  States  in  summer. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — So  far,  only  known  as  a  transient  at  Raleigh  and  Weaverville  and  a 
possible  breeder  on  Black  Mountain. 

Bicknell's  Thrush  occurs  at  Raleigh  sparingly  in  the  migrations,  having  been 
taken  from  May  3  to  18  in  spring,  and  from  September  24  to  October  12  in  the 


332  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


fall.  At  Weaverville  Cairns  recorded  it  from  September  11  to  November  10,  and 
stated  that  he  once  killed  one  on  Black  Mountain  in  August. 

The  nest  is  said  to  be  placed  only  a  few  feet  from  the  ground  against  the  trunk 
of  a  coniferous  tree.  The  eggs  are  light  bluish  green,  speckled  with  brown.  Size 
.87  x  .63. 

This  is  merely  a  smaller  and  more  southerly  nesting  form  of  the  Gray-cheeked 
Thrush,  and  the  two  intergrade  in  size,  so  identification  is  often  difficult. 

339.  Hylocichla  ustulata  swainsoni  (Tsch.).    OLIVE-BACKED  THRUSH. 

Description:  Ad. — Upperparts  uniform  olive;  back  and  tail  practically  the  same  color;  eye- 
ring  deep  cream-buff,  lores  the  same;  whole  throat  and  breast  with  a  strong  tinge  of  deep  cream- 
buff  or  even  ochraceous-buff ;  the  feathers  of  the  sides  of  the  throat  with  wedge-shaped  black  spots 
at  their  tips,  those  of  the  breast  with  rounded  black  spots  at  their  tips;  middle  of  the  belly  white; 
sides  brownish  gray  or  brownish  ashy.  L.,  7.17;  W.,  3.93;  T.,  2.76;  B.,  .50. 

Remarks. — This  bird  will  be  confused  only  with  the  Gray-cheeked  and  Bicknell's  Thrushes, 
from  which  it  differs  in  the  much  stronger  suffusion  of  buff  on  the  throat  and  breast,  its  buff  eye- 
ring  and  lores.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range.— North  America,  except  the  Pacific  coast,  breeding  mainly  north  of  the  United  States, 
wintering  in  extreme  southern  United  States  and  southward. 

Range  in  North  -Carolina. — Transient  in  the  central  section  of  the  State,  occasionally  breeds  in 
the  mountains. 


FIG.  273.     OLIVE-BACKED  THRUSH. 

The  Olive-backed  Thrush  has  been  observed  at  Raleigh  from  April  22  to  May 
17  in  the  spring,  and  from  September  25  to  October  17  in  the  fall.  At  Chapel  Hill 
it  was  taken  on  September  26  and  October  9,  1897  (Pearson).  In  the  mountains 
we  find  it  recorded  from  Blowing  Rock  September  12,  1898  (Kopman),  and  from 
Weaverville  April  4  to  6,  1890,  and  September  2  to  October  16.  Cairns  took  a 
nest  May  20,  1896,  on  Craggy  Mountain  (Smithwick's  Catalogue},  and  Davis,  in 
a  migration  schedule  for  1899  from  Asheville,  says  it  has  been  taken  twice  in  sum- 
mer on  the  higher  mountains. 

The  nest  is  built  in  a  bush  or  small  tree  usually  from  four  to  eight  feet  from  the 
ground,  and  is  composed  of  leaves,  shreds  of  bark,  small  twigs,  and  moss.  The 
three  or  four  eggs  are  greenish  blue,  speckled  with  reddish  brown.  Size  .92  x  .66. 

340.  Hylocichla  guttata  pallasi  (Cab.}.     HERMIT  THRUSH. 

Description:  Ad. — Upperparts  olive-brown,  sometimes  cinnamon-brown;  tail  pale  rufous,  of  a 
distinctly  different  color  from  the  back;  throat  and  breast  with  a  slight  buffy  tinge;  feathers  of 
the  sides  of  the  throat  with  wedge-shaped  black  spots  at  their  tips;  those  of  the  breast  with  large, 
rounded  spots;  middle  of  the  belly  white;  sides  brownish  gray  or  brownish  ashy.  L.,  7.17;  W., 
3.56;  T.,  2.74;  B.,  .51. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  333 


Remarks. — The  Hermit  Thrush  may  always  be  easily  identified  by  its  rufous  tail.  It  is  the  only 
one  of  our  thrushes  which  has  the  tail  brighter  than  the  back.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.)  _ 

Range. — Eastern  North  America,  breeding  from  northern  United  States  northward,  wintering 
from  Virginia  southward. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Winter  visitor  throughout  the  State. 


FIG.  274.     HERMIT  THRUSH. 

The  Hermit  Thrush  is  a  common  winter  visitor  in  the  whole  of  the  State,  arriv- 
ing some  time  in  October.  Our  latest  spring  records  are  April  29  (1892)  for  Raleigh 
and  May  15  for  Weaverville. 

This  bird  stays  mainly  in  heavy,  damp  woods,  and  in  the  thick  growth  along 
streams,  feeding  to  some  extent  on  small  wild  fruits  and  berries,  such  as  frost- 
grapes,  holly  berries,  the  berries  of  the  dogwood  and  of  Ilex  decidua.  It  is  usually 
seen  on  or  near  the  ground. 

Genus  Planesticus 

341.  Planesticus  migratorius  migratorius  (Linn.).    ROBIN. 

Ads. — Top  and  sides  of  the  head  black,  a  white  spot  above  and  below  the  eye;  rest  of  the  upper- 
parts  grayish  slate-color;  margins  of  wings  slightly  lighter;  tail  blackish,  the  outer  feathers  with 
white  spots  at  their  tips;  throat  white,  streaked  with  black;  rest  of  the  underparts  rufous  (tipped 
with  white  in  the  fall),  becoming  white  on  the  middle  of  the  lower  belly;  bill  yellow,  brownish 
in  fall.  Im.  females  average  paler  below  and  with  less  black  on  the  head,  but  fully  adult  birds 
are  as  richly  colored  as  the  brightest  males.  Nestling. — Back  and  underparts  spotted  with  black. 
L.,  10.00;  W.,  4.96;  T.,  3.87;  B.,  .84.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Eastern  and  northern  North  America. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  in  winter  and  during  the  migrations;  apparently  also 
the  breeding  bird  of  the  mountain  region. 

The  Robin,  which  is  the  northern  and  principal  form  of  the  species,  occurs 
commonly  in  our  State  during  the  migrations,  and  is  more  or  less  plentiful  in 
winter,  particularly  in  the  eastern  counties.  Its  abundance  in  a  locality  depends 
much  on  the  food  supply.  In  the  greater  part  of  the  State  the  Robin  is  more  con- 
spicuous during  portions  of  February,  March,  and  early  April  than  at  any  other 
time.  At  this  period  it  frequents  open  fields,  particularly  newly  ploughed  lands, 
where  it  feeds  on  the  insects  that  have  been  exposed  by  the  plough.  In  the  early 
winter  great  flocks  are  often  seen  in  the  eastern  half  of  the  State,  feeding  on  the 
berries  of  the  black-gum  and  holly  trees. 


334  BIRDS  OF  !N"oRTH  CAROLINA 


C.  S.  Brimley  found  it  breeding  at  Blantyre,  in  early  May,  1908,  and  Sherman 
discovered  the  species  abundant  at  Blowing  Rock  in  June,  1909.  In  May,  1908, 
we  also  found  it  common  and  apparently  settled  down  to  breed  at  Hendersonville, 
Toxaway,  Sapphire,  Franklin,  Aquone,  and  Andrews,  and  saw  two  on  the  top  of 
Joanna  Bald  Mountain.  The  nest  is  much  like  that  of  the  Wood  Thrush,  only 
larger,  but  the  inner  lining  of  mud  is  more  extensive.  The  eggs  are  four  in 
number,  of  a  greenish  blue  ground  color,  unspotted.  Size  about  1.16  x  .80. 

341.  Planeoticus  migratorius  achrusterus  (Batch.}.    SOUTHERN  ROBIN. 

Smaller  than  migratorius,  colors  in  general  much  lighter  and  duller.  W.,  4.80;  T.,  3.60.  (Chap., 
Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Southern  States,  limits  of  range  not  well  known. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Central  and  part  of  the  eastern  counties  in  summer. 

This  form,  which  is  nothing  more  than  the  extreme  southern  variation  of  the 
Robin,  is  found  commonly  breeding  at  Raleigh  (C.  S.  Brimley),  Chapel  Hill  and 
Greensboro  (Pearson),  while  at  Wake  Forest  it  is,  according  to  Dr.  W.  L.  Poteat, 
the  most  common  bird  on  the  campus  in  summer.  At  all  of  these  places  it  seems  to 
be  especially  partial  to  lawns  and  gardens.  Other  places  from  which  it  has  been 
recorded  are  Southern  Pines,  where  C.  S.  Brimley  found  it  abundant  in  late  June, 
1909;  Gatesville,  July  18,  1909,  and  Grimesland,  Pitt  County,  July  30,  1909 
(Sherman) ;  and  Belvidere,  Perquimans  County,  where  three  pairs  were  seen  nest- 
ing on  April  25,  1898  (Pearson).  The  southern  limit  of  its  range  in  North  Caro- 
lina is  an  interesting  problem  yet  to  be  solved  by  students  of  bird-life. 

Genus  Sialia  (Swains.) 


342.  Sialia  sialis  sialis  (Linn.}.    BLUEBIRD. 

Ad.  male. — Upperparts,  wings,  and  tail  bright  blue,  tipped  with  rusty  in  the  fall;  throat, 
breast,  and  sides  dull  cinnamon-rufous;  belly  white.  Ad.  female. — Upperparts  with  a  grayish 
tinge;  throat,  breast,  and  sides  paler.  Nestling. — Back  spotted  with  whitish;  the  breast  feathers 
margined  with  fuscous.  L.,  7.01;  W.,  3.93;  T.,  2.58;  B.,  .47.  (Chap.,  Birds  of  E.  N.  A.) 

Range. — Whole  country  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Range  in  North  Carolina. — Whole  State  at  all  seasons,  breeding  throughout  its  range. 


PIG.  275.     BLUEBIRD. 


The  Bluebird  is  one  of  our  most  familiar  birds,  and  nests  everywhere  in  natural 
hollows  in  trees,  often  in  orchards  or  near  houses,  but  just  as  frequently  in  situa- 
tions remote  from  the  haunts  of  man.  The  bottom  of  the  hollow  is  lined  with 


Plate   24 


ROBIN.      Planeaticus  migratorius  migratorius   (Linn.)      Male  and  Female 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  335 


grass,  and  in  this  simple  cradle  the  Bluebird  lays  its  four  or  five  pale-blue  eggs. 
Occasionally  white  eggs  are  found,  and  when  this  is  the  case  the  whole  set  is  white. 
At  Raleigh  nests  containing  eggs  have  been  found  as  early  as  April  13  (1888)  and 
as  late  as  June  26  (1886). 

The  Bluebird  feeds  in  summer  mainly  on  insects  and  in  winter  chiefly  on  vari- 
ous kinds  of  berries.  In  February,  1895,  a  blizzard  covered  the  earth  and  trees 
with  ice  for  many  days.  The  Bluebirds,  thus  being  unable  to  procure  food  beneath 
its  glittering  mantle,  were  starved  and  frozen  by  thousands.  The  species  through 
virtually  the  whole  of  the  eastern  United  States  suffered  in  the  same  way,  and 
apparently  came  very  near  being  exterminated.  For  several  years  subsequently 
it  was  a  rare  sight  to  see  a  Bluebird.  They  have  now,  however,  about  regained 
their  former  numbers. 

Bluebirds  will  build  their  nest  in  a  box  placed  on  a  pole  in  the  garden  or  nailed 
to  a  tree  in  the  lawn.  The  pleasure  of  having  them  about  the  premises  will  well 
repay  one  for  the  small  labor  involved  in  providing  them  with  a  suitable  nesting 
box. 


APPENDICES 


I.    BIBLIOGRAPHY 

In  addition  to  the  works  of  the  early  explorers  and  historians  referred  to  in  the  Introduction, 
the  following  publications  contain  references  to  North  Carolina  birds.  Modern  ornithological 
observations  in  the  State  may  be  said  to  have  commenced  in  the  year  1871.  This  list  in- 
cludes all  known  papers  containing  records  of  birds  or  their  eggs  from  North  Carolina. 

1871.     COUES,  DR.  ELLIOT.     Notes  on  the  Natural  History  of  Fort  Macon,  N.  C.,  and  vicinity. 
(No.  1.)     Mammals,  Birds,  and  Reptiles.     Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.,  Phila.,  May  2,  1871. 
Contains  notes  on  122  species  of  birds. 

1884.  BRIMLEY,  H.  H.  and  C.  S.     Notes  from  Middle  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Dec., 

1884,  p.  145.     Records  Connecticut  Warbler  from  the  State. 
BRIMLEY,  H.  H.  and  C.  S.     Notes  from  Middle  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Oct., 

1884,  p.  127. 
BLANCHARD,  W.  A.     A  Summer  Home  of  the  Black  Snowbird,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Feb.,  1884, 

p.  23. 

1885.  BRIMLEY,  H.  H.  and  C.  S.     Notes  from  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Jan.,  1885,  p.  14. 
BRIMLEY,  H.  H.  and  C.  S.     Notes  from  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Feb.,  1885,  pp. 

29-30. 
BRIMLEY,  H.  H.  and  C.  S.     Notes  from  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  April,  1885,  pp. 

63-4. 
BRIMLEY,  H.  H.  and  C.  S.     Notes  from  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  May,  1885,  pp. 

79-80. 
BRIMLEY,  H.  H.  and  C.  S.     Winter  Birds  of  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Aug.,  1885, 

p.  128.     Records  72  species. 
BRIMLEY,  H.  H.  and  C.  S.     Summer  Birds  of  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Sept.,  1885, 

pp.  143—4.     Enumerates  82  species. 
BRIMLEY,  H.  H.  and  C.  S.     Fall  migrants  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Dec.  1885. 

1886.  BATCHELDER,  CHARLES  FOSTER.     The  North  Carolina  Mountains  in  Winter,  Auk,  1886, 

pp.  307-314. 
BREWSTER,  WILLIAM.     An  ornithological  Reconnaissance  in  Western  North  Carolina, 

Auk,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  1,  Jan.,  1886,  pp.  94  et  seq. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Winter  Notes  from  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  May,  1886,  p.  76. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Spring  Migration  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  June,  1886,  pp. 

91-2. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Spring  Migration  at  Raleigh,  Part  II.     Orn.  and  Ool.,  July,  1886,  pp. 

108-9. 

1887.  CAIRNS,  JOHN  S.     List  of  the  Birds  of  Buncombe  County,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Jan., 

1887,  pp.  3-6.     Enumerates  169  species. 

ATKINSON,  G.  F.  Preliminary  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  North  Carolina,  with  Notes 
on  Some  of  the  Species.  Jour.  Eli.  Mitch.  Sci.  Soc.,  1887,  Part  II,  pp.  44—87.  Enu- 
merates 255  species  and  subspecies  as  occurring  in  the  State. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Notes  from  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Feb.,  1887,  pp.  20-21. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.  Winter  Notes  from  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  March,  1887,  pp. 
36-7. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     The  Blue  Grosbeak,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  June,  1887,  pp.  92—3. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Winter  Food  of  Birds  in  the  South,  Orn.  and  Ool,  July,  1887,  pp.  105-6. 

MCLAUGHLIN,  R.  B.     The  Home  of  the  Carolina  Wren,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  July,  1887,  p.  109. 

22 


338  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


1887.  BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Brown-headed  Nuthatch,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Aug.,  1887, 

p.  126. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Two  Species  of  Kinglets  as  Observed  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool., 

Aug.,  1887. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Amount  of  Food  Consumed  by  a  Barred  Owl,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Aug., 

1887,  p.  122. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     The  Whip-poor-will  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Sept.,  1887,  p. 

154. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Dates  of  Birds  Nesting  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Oct.,  1887 

p.  162. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Number  of  Eggs  in  a  Set,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Oct.,  1887,  p.  166. 
MCLAUGHLIN,  R.  B.     Nesting  of  the  Pine-creeping  Warbler  (at  Statesville,  N.  C.),  Orn. 

and  Ool,  Oct.,  1887,  p.  171. 
MCLAUGHLIN,  R.  B.     Nesting  of  the  Yellow-throated  Warbler,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Oct.,  1887, 

p.  171. 
MCLAUGHLIN,  R.  B.     Nesting  of  the  Louisiana  Water-Thrush,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Oct.,  1887, 

p.  174. 
MCLAUGHLIN,  R.  B.     Where  the  Nest  Complement  is  Two  Eggs,  an  Interval  of  More 

Than  a  Day  Elapses  Between  Their  Being  Laid,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Dec.,  1887,  p.  198. 
SENNETT,  G.  B.     Observations  in  Western  North  Carolina  Mountains  in  1886,  Auk,  IV, 

pp.  240-45. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Notes  from  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Dec.,  1887,  p.  201. 
MCLAUGHLIN,  R.  B.     Double  Nest  of  the  Parula  Warbler,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Dec.,  1887, 

p.  206. 

1888.  BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     The  Food  of  Some  Raleigh  Birds,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Jan.,  1888,  p.  16. 
"J.  M.  W."     The  Parula  Warbler,  its  Nest  and  Eggs,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Jan.,  1888,  pp.  3 

et  seq. 

MCLAUGHLIN,  R.  B.     Following  the  Logcock,  Orn.  and  Ool,  March,  1888,  p.  40. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     List  of  Birds  Known  to  Breed  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool,  March, 

1888,  p.  42.     Enumerates  54  species. 

MCLAUGHLIN,  R.  B.     Nesting  of  the  Tufted  Titmouse,  Orn.  and  Ool,  April,  1888,  p.  61. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Pine  Warbler,  Orn.  and  Ool,  June,  1888,  p.  89. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Finding  a  Turkey  Buzzard's  Nest,  Orn.  and  Ool,  June,  1888,  p.  91. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  Carolina  Chickadee  in  1888,  Orn.  and  Ool,  July,  1888,  p.  100. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Birds  in  Their  Relation  to  Agriculture.     Orn.  and  Ool,  July,  1888, 

p.  108. 
BREWSTER,  WILLIAM.     Nest  and  Eggs  of  the  Mountain  Solitary  Vireo,  Orn.  and  Ool, 

Aug.,  1888,  p.  113. 
MCLAUGHLIN,  R.  B.     Nesting  of  the  Mountain  Solitary  Vireo,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Aug., 

1888,  p.  113. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     The  Mockingbird,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Aug.,  1888,  p.  117. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Winter  Notes  from  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Sept.,  1888,  p.  140. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     On  the  Food  of  the  Woodpeckers,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Sept.,  1888,  p.  141. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Field  Sparrow  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Sept., 

1888,  p.  142. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  Tufted  Tit  in  1888,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Sept.,  1888,  p.  142. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Brown-headed  Nuthatch  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool, 

Oct.,  1888,  p.  149. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Brief  Notes  from  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Sept.,  1888,  p.  142. 
BRIMLEY,  H.  H.     With  Rope  and  Irons,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Oct.,  1888,  p.  150. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  339 


1888.  WAYNE,  ARTHUR  T.     Nesting  of  the  Brown-headed  Nuthatch  in  South  Carolina,  Orn. 

and  OoL,  Feb.,  1888,  pp.  21  et  seq. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Some  albino  Winter  Wrens,  Orn.  and  OoL,  Feb.,  1888,  p.  32. 
N(ORRIS),  J.  P.     A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Black  and  White  Warbler,  Orn.  and  OoL,  Dec., 

1888,  p.  183. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Some  Additions  to  the  Avifauna   of   North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  OoL, 

Dec.,  1888,  p.    187.     Enumerates   several   species   added  to  the  State  list  since  the 

publication  of  Atkinson's  Catalogue. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Occurrence  of  the  White-throated  Warbler  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and 

OoL,  Dec.,  1888,  p.  189.     (Brewster's  Warbler.) 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Yellow-breasted  Chat  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  OoL, 

p.  189. 

1889.  CAIRNS,  JOHN  S.     The  Summer  Birds  of  Buncombe  County,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  OoL,  Feb., 

1889,  pp.  17-23.     Enumerates  123  species. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Vireo  solitarius  alticola  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  OoL,  March,  1889, 

p.  37. 
JEFFRIES,  W.  A.  and  J.  A.     Notes  on  Western  North  Carolina  Birds,  Auk,  Vol.  VI, 

No.  2,  April,  1889,  p.  119. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Local  Names  of  North  Carolina  Birds,  Orn.  and  OoL,  July,  1889,  p.  108. 
N  (ORRIS),  J.  P.     A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Chuck- will' s-widow,  Orn.  and  OoL,  Aug.,  1889, 

p.  116. 
N(ORRIS),  J.  P.     A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  American  Woodcock,  Orn.  and  OoL,  Aug.,  1889, 

p.  119. 

N  (ORRIS),  J.  P.     A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Pine  Warbler,  Orn.  and  OoL,  Sept.,  1889,  p.  130. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Barred  Owl  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  OoL,  Sept.,  1889, 

p.  132. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Acadian  Flycatcher  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  OoL, 

Sept.,  1889,  p.  136. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Yellow-throated  Warbler  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and 

OoL,  Oct.,  1889,  p.  151. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     The  Preference  of  the  Brown-headed  Nuthatch  for  a  Nesting  Site  Near 

Water,  Orn.  and  OoL,  Oct.,  1889,  p.  156. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Pine  Warbler  in  1889  at  Raleigh,  Orn.  and  OoL,  Oct., 

1889,  p.  156. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     The  Chuck-wiU's-widow  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  OoL,  Oct.,  1889, 

p.  158. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  Dates  in  1889  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and  OoL,  Nov.,  1889, 

p.  165. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Louisiana  Water-Thrush  in  1889  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn. 

and  OoL,  Nov.,  1889,  p.  169. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  American  Woodcock  in  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  OoL, 

Nov.,  1889,  p.  169. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn.  and 

OoL,  Dec.,  1889,  p.  181. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     One  Day's  Egging,  Orn.  and  OoL,  Jan.,  1889,  p.  8. 

1890.  BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Ruby-throated  Hummingbird  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn. 

and  OoL,  Feb.,  1890,  p.  18. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Blue  Grosbeak  in  1888  and  1889  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Orn. 

and  OoL,  Feb.,  1890,  p.  22. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Additions  to  the  Avifauna  of  North  Carolina  and  of  Raleigh,  Orn.  and 

OoL,  Feb.,  1890,  p.  23. 


340  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


1890.  BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     In  the  Woods  at  Dogwood  Time,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Feb.,  1890,  p.  25. 
BRIMLEY,  H.  H.     Down  the  Creek  After  Eggs,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  March,  1890,  p.  38. 

N (ORRIS),  J.  P.     A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Louisiana  Water-Thrush,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  April 

1890,  p.  53. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     An  Interval  Between  the  Laying  of  Eggs,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  May,  1890, 

p.  66. 
DWIGHT,  JONATHAN,  Jr.     The  Horned  Larks  of  North  America,  Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  2, 

April,  1890,  p.  138. 
FISHER,  A.  K.     The  Appearance  of  the  Razor-billed  Auk  (Alca  torda)  on  the  Coast  of 

North  Carolina,  Auk,  April,  1890,  p.  203. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Yellow-throated  Warbler  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina, 

Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1890,  p.  323. 

BBIMLEY,  C.  S.     Stray  Notes,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  July,  1890,  p.  103. 
N(ORRIS),  J.  P.     A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Worm-eating  Warbler,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Aug., 

1890,  p.  118. 

BRIMLEY,  H.  H.     Footrule  and  Scales,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Sept.,  1890,  p.  130. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     The  Number  of  Eggs  in  a  Set,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Oct.,  1890,  p.  146. 
N(ORRIS),  J.  P.     A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Tufted  Titmouse,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Oct.,  1890, 

p.  147. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     The   Nesting  of  the  Summer  Tanager  at   Raleigh,   North   Carolina, 

Orn.  and  Ool.,  Nov.,  1890,  p.  164. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Prairie  Warbler  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  Ool., 

Nov.,  1890,  p.  166. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Eggs  of  the  Tufted  Tit,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Dec.,  1890,  p.  182. 

1891.  BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     The  Number  of  Eggs  to  a  Set,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Jan.,  1891,  p.  9. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Cedar  Waxwing  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and 

Ool,  Feb.,  1891,  p.  25. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Black  Rail  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  Ool, 

Feb.,  1891,  p.  26. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Broad-winged  Hawk  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  Orn. 

and  Ool.,  Feb.,  1891,  p.  27. 
SMITHWICK,  J.  W.  P.     Two  Days  in  the  Woods  with  the  Birds,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  July,  1891, 

p.  97. 

SMITHWICK,  J.  W.  P.     A  Curious  Find,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  July,  1891,  p.  99. 
SMITHWICK,  J.  W.  P.     Nesting  and  Other  Habits  of  the  Pine  Warbler,  Orn.  and  Ool., 

Aug.,  1891,  p.  119. 
BRIMLEY,  H.  H.  and  C.  S.     Notes  from  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Aug., 

1891,  p.  125. 

N(ORRIS),  J.  P.     A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Maryland  Yellow-throat,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Oct., 

1891,  p.  150. 
CAIRNS,  JOHN  S.     List  of  the  Birds  of  Buncombe  County,  North  Carolina.     (Booklet, 

dated  July  16,  1891.     No  place  of  publication  given.) 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Dendroica  vigorsii  breeding  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  Auk,  Vol.  VIII, 

No.  2,  April,  1891. 
BRIMLEY,   C.    S.     Bachman's   Warbler    (Helminthophila   bachmani)    at   Raleigh,    North 

Carolina,  Auk,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  3,  July,  1891,  p.  316. 

1892.  BRIMLEY,  H.  H.     Pavoncella  pugnax  in  North  Carolina,  Auk,  Vol.  IX,  No.  3,  July,  1892, 

p.  299. 

N(ORRIS),  J.  P.     A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Ovenbird,  Orn.  and  Ool,  May,  1892,  p.  65. 
PEARSON,  T.  GILBERT.     Spring  Notes  from  Guilford  County,  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and 

Ool,  May,  1892,  p.  76. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  341 


1892.  BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Nesting  of  the  Louisiana  Water-Thrush,  Orn.  and  Ool,  July,  1892, 

p.  99. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     A  Set  of  the  King  Rail,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  July,  1892,  p.  103. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Brief  Notes  from  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  Ool,  July,  1892, 

p.  104. 

BRIMLEY,  H.  H.     Notes  from  Beaufort,  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  July,  1892,  p.  106. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     A  Few  Notes  on  the  Gallinules  in  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  Ool.,  Sept., 

1892,  p.  134. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     The  Maryland  Yellow-throat  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  in  Winter, 

Orn.  and  Ool.,  Sept.,  1892,  p.  137. 
LADD,  S.  B.     Nesting  of  the  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler  in  Buncombe  County,  North 

Carolina,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Sept.,  1892,  pp.  129-130. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Some  Notes  of  the  Winter  of  1889-90;  Orn.  and  Ool,  Oct.,  1892,  p.  152. 
LAURENT,  PHILIP.     Breeding  Habits  of  Junco  hyemalis  carolinensis,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Aug., 

1892,  p.  116. 

1893.  PEARSON,  T.  GILBERT.     In  the  Great  Dismal  Swamp,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Feb.,  1893,  p.  26. 
DAVIS,  MINOT.     Bird  Notes  from  Western  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  Ool,  Aug.,  1893, 

p.  113. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Some  additions  to  the  Avifauna  of   North  Carolina,  with  Notes  on 
Some  Other  Species,  Auk,  Vol.  X,  No.  3,  July,  1893,  p.  241. 

1894.  BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Notes  from  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  Auk,  Vol.  XI,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1894, 

p.  332. 

1895.  RHOADS,  S.  N.     Contributions  to  the  Zoology  of  Tennessee,  No.  2,  Birds,  Proc.  Acad. 

Sci.  Phila.,  1895,  pp.  463  et  seq. 

1897.  PEARSON,  T.  GILBERT.     Briinnich's  Murre  (Uria  lomvia)  at  New  Bern,  North  Carolina, 

Auk,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  2,  April,  1897,  p.  202. 
SMITHWICK,  J.  W.  P.     Ornithology  of  North  Carolina.     A  List  of  the  Birds  of  North 

Carolina  with  Notes  of  Each  Species.     A".  C.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull,  No.  144,  Oct.  30,  1897. 

Enumerates  303  species  and  subspecies. 
COUES,  ELLIOTT.     Characters  of  Dendroica  coerulescens  cairnsi,  Auk,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  1, 

Jan.,  1897,  p.  96. 

1898.  PEARSON,  T.  GILBERT.     Nesting  Habits  of  Some  Southern  Forms  of  Birds  in  Eastern 

North  Carolina,  Jour.  Eli.  Mitch.  Sci.  Soc.,  Vol.  XV,  pt.  1,  Nov.,  1898. 
PEARSON,  T.  GILBERT.     An  Addition  and  a  Correction  to  the  List  of  North  Carolina 

Birds,  Auk,  July,  1898,  p.  275. 
PALMER,  William.     Our  Small  Eastern  Shrikes,  Auk,  July,  1898,  pp.  244  et  seq. 

1899.  PEARSON,  T.  GILBERT.     Notes  on  Some  of  the  Birds  of  Eastern  North  Carolina,  Auk, 

July,  1899,  pp.  246  et  seq. 
WAYNE,  ARTHUR  T.     Notes  on  Marian's  Marsh  Wren  (Cistothorus  marianoe)  and  Worth- 

ington's  Marsh  Wren  (griseus),  Auk,  Oct.,  1899,  p.  361. 
PEARSON,  T.  GILBERT.     Preliminary  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Chapel  Hill,  with  Brief 

Notes  on  Some  of  the  Species,  Jour.  Eli.  Mitch.  Sci.  Soc.,  Vol.  XVI,  pt.  1,  Oct.  1,  1899. 

Enumerates  132  species  and  subspecies. 
CHAPMAN,  F.  M.     The  Distribution  and  Relationship  of  Ammodramus  maritimus  and 

its  Allies,  Auk,  Jan.,  1899,  pp.  1  et  seq. 

1900.  STONE,  WITMER.     Breeding  of  the  Little  Black  Rail  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Auk,  April,  1900, 

p.  171. 

1901.  LOOMIS,  L.  M.     The  Raven  in  Polk  County,  North  Carolina,  Auk,  Jan.,  1901,  p.  108. 
BISHOP,  Louis  B.     The  Winter  Birds  of  Pea  Island,  N.  C.,  Auk,  July,  1901,  pp.  260  et  seq. 
BISHOP,  Louis  B.     A  New  Sharp-tailed  Finch  from  North  Carolina,  Auk,  July,   1901, 

pp.  269-270. 


342  BIEDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


1901.  PEARSON,  T.  GILBERT.     Stories  of  Bird-life.     Published  by  B.  F.  Johnson  Pub.  Co., 

Richmond,  Va. 
COGGINS,  HERBERT  L.     The  Western  Savannah  Sparrow  in  North  Carolina,  Auk,  Oct., 

1901,  p.  397. 

1902.  THAYER,  GERALD  H.     The  Red  Phalarope  in  North  Carolina,  Auk,  July,  1902,  p.  285. 
MORRELL,  C.  H.     The  Occurrence  of  the  Prairie  Horned  Lark  at  Southern  Pines,  N.  C., 

Auk,  July,  1902,  p.  289. 
HOWE,  REGINALD  HEBER.     The  European  Widgeon  in  North  Carolina,  Auk,  Jan.,  1902, 

p.  76. 
DANIEL,  JOHN  W.,  JR.     The  Summer  Birds  of  the  Great  Dismal  Swamp,  Auk,  Jan., 

1902,  pp.  15-18. 

1904.  COOKE,  WELLS  W.     The  Effect  of  Altitude  on  Bird  Migration,  Auk,  July,  1904,  pp.  338 

et  seq. 

COOKE,  WELLS  W.     Distribution  and  Migration  of  North  American  Warblers,    U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Agr.,  Div.  of  Biol.  Survey,  Bull.  No.  18,  1904. 

1905.  OBERHOLSER,  H.  C.     Notes  on  the  Mammals  and  Summer  Birds  of  Western  North 

Carolina.     Published  for  the  use  of  students  by  the  Biltmore  Forest  School,  Sept., 

1905. 
PEARSON,  T.  GILBERT.     The  Cormorants  of  Great  Lake,  Bird-Lore,  March-April,  1905, 

pp.  121-126. 
THAYER,  JOHN  E.     The  Dovekie  on  the  Coast  of  North  Carolina,  Auk,  July,  1905,  p.  310. 

1906.  COOKE,  WELLS  W.     Distribution  and  Migration  of  North  American  Ducks,  Geese,  and 

Swans,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agr.,  Div.  of  Biol.  Survey,  Bull.  No.  26,  1906. 

1907.  BRIMLEY,  H.  H.     White-winged  Crossbill  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Auk,  April,  1907,  p.  220. 

1908.  PEARSON,  T.  GILBERT.     Ornithological  Work  in  North  Carolina,  Jour.  Eli.  Mitch,  Sci. 

Soc.,  June,  1908,  pp.  33-43. 
PEARSON,  T.  GILBERT.     Cabot's  Tern  (Sterna  sandvicensis  acuflavida)  Breeding  in  North 

Carolina,  Auk,  July,   1908,  p.  312. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.  and  SHERMAN,  F.,  JR.     Notes  on  the  Life  Zones  in  North  Carolina,  Jour. 

Eli.  Mitch.  Sci.  Soc.,  May,  1908,  pp.  14-22. 

1909.  BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     On  the  Number  of  Species  of  Birds  that  Can  be  Observed  in  One  Day 

at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Jour.  Eli.  Mitch.  Sci.  Soc.,  June,  1909,  pp.  54-8. 

BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Some  Notes  on  the  Song  Periods  of  Birds,  Jour.  Eli.  Mitch.  Sci.  Soc. 
June,  1909,  pp.  59-61. 

1910.  WAYNE,  A.  T.     Breeding  of  the  Cerulean  Warbler  at  Morganton,  N.  C.,  Auk,  Jan., 

1910,  pp.  84-5. 

WAYNE,  A.  T.     The  Wood  Ibis  in  the  North  Carolina  Mountains,  Auk,  Jan.,  1910,  p.  79, 
BRIMLEY,  H.  H.     The  Northern  Phalarope  in  Bladen  County,  North  Carolina,  Auk. 

April,  1910,  p.  206. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Some  Remarks  on  the  Relation  of  Birds  to  Our  Farms  and  Gardens, 

Jour.  Eli.  Mitch.  Sci.  Soc.,  May,  1910. 
SHERMAN,  F.,  JR.     Some  Peculiarities  in  the  Distribution  of  Some  North  Carolina  Birds, 

Jour.  Eli.  Mitch.  Sci.  Soc.,  May,  1910. 
BOWDISH,  B.  S.  AND  PHILLIP,  P.  B.      Bird  Photographing  in  the  Carolinas,  with  an 

Annotated  List  of  the  Birds  Observed,  Auk,  July,  1910,  pp.  305-322,  plates  XV-XVII. 
WHITE,  JASPER  B.     Blackheads  Breeding  in  Currituck,  N.  C.,  Forest  and  Stream,  Aug. 

6,  1910,  p.  211. 
BREWSTER,  WILLIAM.     Resurrection  of  the  Red-legged  Black  Duck,  Auk,  July,  1910, 

pp.  323-333. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  343 


1910.     COOKE,  WELLS  W.     Distribution  and  Migration  of  North  American  Shore-birds,  U.  S. 

De-pi.  ofAgr.,  Div.  ofBiol.  Survey,  Bull.  No.  35. 
WAYNE,  A.  T.     Birds  of  South  Carolina.     Contributions  from  the  Charleston  Museum. 

1912.  KOBBE,  FREDERICK  WILLIAM.     Shore-bird  Notes,  Auk,  Jan.,  1912,  p.  108. 

FEILD,  A.  L.     Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Chapel  Hill,  Jour.  Eli.  Mitch.  Sci.  Soc.,  May,  1912. 
BRUNER,  S.  C.  AND  FEILD,  A.  L.      Notes  on  the  Birds  Observed  on  a  Trip  Through  the 

Mountains  of  Western  North  Carolina,  Auk,  July,  1912,  pp.  368-377. 
BRIMLEY,  H.  H.     Brown  Pelican  on  Pamlico  Sound  and  at  Durham,  N.  C.,  Auk,  Oct., 

1912,  p.  531. 

BRIMLEY,  H.  H.     Ocracoke  Water  Bird  Notes,  Auk,  Vol.  XXIX,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1912. 
PHILLIPS,  J.  C.     Mallard  and  Black  Ducks  at  Currituck,  N.  C.,  Auk,  Oct.,  1912,  pp. 

533-4. 

1913.  WESTON,  FRANCIS  M.,  JR.     Additional  Notes  from  the  Mountains  of  North  Carolina, 

Auk,  Vol.  XXX,  No.  3,  July,  1913. 
NICHOLS,  JOHN  TREADWELL.     Notes  on  Offshore  Birds  (including  the  Cape  Hatteras 

Region),  Auk,  Vol.  XXX,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1913. 
PHILLIPS,  JOHN  C.     A  Crested  Canada  Goose  (from  Pea  Island,  N.  C.),  Auk,  Vol.  XXX, 

No.  4,  Oct.,  1913. 
COOKE,  WELLS  W.     Distribution  and  Migration  of  North  American  Herons  and  Their 

Allies,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  Biol.  Survey,  Bull.  45,  May  24,  1913. 

1914.  COOKE,  WELLS  W.     Distribution  and  Migration  of  North  American  Rails  and  Their 

Allies,  Butt.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  Biol.  Survey,  No.  128,  Sept.  25,  1914. 
NICHOLS,  JOHN  TREADWELL.     Brown  Pelican  Regular  Off  North  Carolina,  Auk,  Vol. 

XXXI,  No.  1,  Jan.,  1914. 
WRIGHT,  ALBERT  HAZEN.     Early  Records  of  the  Wild  Turkey,  Auk,  Vol.  XXXI,  No.  3, 

July,  1914,  p.  352. 
WAYNE,  ARTHUR  T.     A  Second  North  Carolina  Record  for  Lincoln's  Sparrow,  Auk, 

Vol.  XXXI,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1914. 

1915.  PHILLIPS,  JOHN  C.     The  Old  New  England  Bob-White,  Auk,  Vol.  XXXII,  No.  2,  April, 

1915,  p.  207. 
WRIGHT,  ALBERT  HAZEN.  Early  Records  of  the  Wild  Turkey,  Auk,  Vol.  XXXII,  No.  2, 

April,  1915,  p.  211. 
NICHOLS,  JOHN  T.  and  GRISCOM,  LUDLOW.     Currituck  Sound  and  Beach   to  Snowden, 

N.  C.,  Bird-Lore,  Vol.  XVII,  No.  1,  January-February,  1915,  p.  36. 

1916.  NICHOLS,  JOHN  T.  and  GRISCOM,  LUDLOW.     Orange-crowned  Wai  bier   in  North  Caro- 

lina, Auk,  Vol.  XXXIII,  No.  1,  January,  1916,  p.  78. 
BROWN,  ROY  M.     Boone,  North  Carolina  Bird  Notes,  Bird-Lore,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.   1, 

January-February,  1916,  p.  30. 
ANDREWS,  THEODORE.     Lexington,  North   Carolina  Bird  Notes,  Bird-Lore,  Vol.  XIII, 

No.  1,  January-February,  1916,  p.  30. 
BRUNER,  S.  C.  and  BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     The  Spring  Migration  of  1915  at  Raleigh,  N.  C., 

Bird-Lore,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  2,  March-April,  1916,  pp.  85-87. 

1917.  WRIGHT,  HORACE  W.     Orange-crowned  Warbler  in  Massachusetts,  Auk,  Vol.  XXXIV, 

No.  1,  January,  1917,  p.  21. 
SHORGER,  A.  W.     Notes  from  North  Carolina,  Auk,  Vol.  XXXIV,  No.  2.  April,  1917, 

p.  219. 
BRIMLEY,  C.  S.     Thirty-two  Years  Bird  Migration  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Auk,  Vol.  XXIV, 

No.  3,  July,  1917,  pp.  296-308. 


344 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


1917.  NICHOLS,  J.  T.     Man-o'-War  Bird,  etc.,  on  the  North  Carolina  Coast,  Auk,  Vol.  XXIV, 

No.  4,  October,  1917  p.  476. 
JOHNSON,  J.  M.,  NICHOLS,  J.  T.,  and  GRISCOM,  LUDLOW.     Currituck  Sound  Bird  Notes, 

Bird-Lore,  Vol.  XIX,  No.  1,  January-February,  1917,  p.  27. 
ANDREWS,  THEODORE;  ASHBY,  CLIFTON  and  R.  A.;  JONES,  JOSEPH  C.;  BRIMLEY,  C.  S. 

and  EDWARD.     Bird  Notes  from  Lexington,  Louisburg,  and  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Bird-Lore, 

Vol.  XIX,  No.  1,  January-February,  1917,  p.  27.  ^ 

1918.  BROWN,  ROY  M.  and  ANDREWS,  THEODORE.     Bird  Notes  from  Boone  and  Lexington, 

N.  C.,  Bird-Lore,  Vol.  XX,  No.  1,  January-February,  1918,  p.  40. 


II.    MIGRATION  OF  BIRDS  AT  RALEIGH,    N.    C.,    1885-1915 

AS  RECORDED  BY  H.  H.  BRIMLEY,  C.  S.  BRIMLEY,  AND  S.  C.  BRUNER. 
A.     SPRING   MIGRATION 


Name  of  Bird. 

Earliest 
Arrival. 

Average 
Arrival. 

Latest  Noted. 

Length  of  Stay. 

Chipping  Sparrow  .  . 

Feb.  23,  '12 
Feb.   15,  '90 
Mar.  13,  '90 
Mar.  14,  '08 
Mar.    9,  '05 
Mar.  16,  '94 
Mar.  16,  '07 
Mar.  18,  '90 
Mar.  19,  '89 

Mar.  19,  '94 
Mar.  18,  '98 
Mar.  19,  '08 
Mar.  20,  '94 

Mar.  22,  '97,  '98 
Mar.  22,  '93 
Mar.  22,  '93 
Mar.  18,  '11 
Mar.  23,  '88 
Mar.  24,  '99 
Mar.  25,  '97 
Mar.  25,  '93 
Mar.  25,  '97 
Mar.  28,  '98 
Mar.  28,  '08 
Mar.  29,  '93 
April    1,  '85 
April    1,  '89 
April    1,  '92 
April    1,  '87 
April    2,  '88 
April    2,  '88 
April    3,  '88 
April    3,  '93 
April    4,  '89 
April    5,  '88 
April    6,  '92 
April    6,  '88 
April    6,  '88 
April    6,  '00 
Aoril    6.  '98 

Mar.    8 

Nov.  25,  '88 
April  20,  '88 
Sept.  20,  '01 
Aug.  22,  '88 
Nov.  17,  '92 
Oct.     2,  '86,  '89 
Sept.    9,  '07 
Nov.  15,  '86 
April  20,  '09 

Oct.    13,  '86,  '91 
May     3,  '01 
May  30,  '93 
Oct.    24,  '93 

May  11,  '94 
April  15,  '15 
May  29,  '88 
May    6,  '91 
May     6,  '89 
Oct.    16,  '07 
Oct.    22,  '92 
May  18,  '88 
May     5,  '88 
April  30,  '87 
July   17,  '86,  '08 
Oct.      2,  '94 
Sept.  20,  '01 
Oct.    14,  '90 
Nov.    6,  '94 
May     4,  '85 
May  25,  '99 
Oct.    13,  '86,  '91 
Sept.  16,  '91 
Sept.  14,  '91 
Oct.     4,  '11 
Sept.  20,  '93 
Sept.  20,  '01 
Oct.    16,  '07 
Sept.  30,  '86 
May     9,  '00 
May  16,  '84 

8  mos.  20  days,  (a) 
2  mos.    5  days.  (6) 
6  mos.    7  days. 
5  mos.    8  days. 
8  mos.    8  days.(c) 
6  mos.  17  days. 
5  mos.  24  days. 
7  mos.  27  days.(cZ) 
1  mo.      1  day. 

6  mos.  25  days.(«) 
1  mo.    15  days. 
2  mos.  11  days.ff) 
7  mos.    4  days.(<7) 

1  mo.    19  days. 
24  days. 
2  mos.    7  days. 
1  mo.    18  days. 
1  mo.    13  days.(h) 
6  mos.  23  days.(i) 
6  mos.  28  days. 
1  mo.    24  days. 
1  mo.    10  days.O) 
1  mo.      2  days. 
3  mos.  20  days. 
6  mos.    4  days. 
5  mos.  19  days.(fc) 
6  mos.  13  days. 
7  mos.    5  days. 
1  mo.      3  days. 
1  mo.   23  days. 
6  mos.  11  days. 
5  mos.  13  days. 
5  mos.  11  days. 
6  mos. 
5  mos.  15  days.(Z) 
5  mos.  14  days. 
6  mos.  10  days. 
5  mos.  24  days. 
1  mo.      3  days.(m) 
1  mo.    10  days.(n) 

*Rusty  Blackbird 

Yellow-throated  Warbler 
Louisiana  Water-Thrush 
King  Rail 

Mar.  24 
Mar.  26 

Blue-gray  Gnatc£»tcher_ 
Purple  Martin 

Mar.  24- 

Blue-headed  Vireo 

Mar.  25 

*Pied-billed  Grebe   

Black-and-white 
Warbler 

Mar.  27 

*Henslow's  Sparrow  

*Bittern 

Mar.  31 
Mar.  26 

Mar.  27 
Mar.  25 
April    1 
Mar.  30 

Maryland  Yellow-throat 
*Black-throated  Green 
Warbler 

*Pectoral  Sandpiper  

*Greater  Yellowlegs  
*Osprey 

*Blue-winged  Teal 

White-eyed  Vireo  __ 

Mar.  31 

Grasshopper  Sparrow  
*Yellowlegs 

April    3 
April    3 

*Tree  Swallow  _  _   _ 

*Upland  Plover 

Rough-winged  Swallow  _ 
Green  Heron,   __   

April    9 

Bachman's  Sparrow  
Parula  Warbler 

April  10 
April  10 
April  17 
April    7 
April  12 
April  14 
April  15 
April  16 
April  14 
April  14 
April  16 
April  17 

Whip-poor-will 

*House  Wren  

*Barn  Swallow 

Redstart 

Yellow-throated  Vireo__ 
Spotted  Sandpiper  

Chimney  Swift 

Yellow  Warbler 

Prairie  Warbler  ____ 

Red-eyed  Vireo  

Summer  Tanager  _ 

*Virginia  Rail       _  

*American  Coot  _  . 

DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 
SPRING  MIGRATION — Continued. 


345 


1 

Name  of  Bird. 

Earliest 
Arrival. 

Average 
Arrival. 

Latest  Noted. 

Length  of  Stay. 

Black-crowned  Night 
Heron  _   _           _ 

April    6,  '15  only. 

*Solitary  Sandpiper 

April    4,  '89 

April  24 

May  25,  '94 

1  mo.    21  days. 

Ovenbird 

April    7,  '92 

April  17 

Oct.    23,  '85 

6  mos.  16  days. 

Broad-winged  Hawk  
*SoraRail.       .       

April    8,  '90,  '97 
April    8,  '86 

April  10 
April  19 

Aug.  26,  '89 
May  13,  '89 

4  mos.  18  days. 
1  mo.      5  days. 

*Cape  May  Warbler 

April    7,  '92 

May     9,  '92 

1  mo.      2  days. 

Crested  Flycatcher  . 

April    9,  '88 

April  16 

Sept.  28,  '93 

5  mos.  19  days. 

Hooded  Warbler 

April  10,  '93 

April  16 

Oct.      1,  '91 

5  mos.  21  days. 

Wood  Thrush 
Ruby-throated  Hummer 
Chuck-will's-widow  
Kingbird  

April    9,  '11 
April  10,  '95 
April  10,  '90 
April  12,  '15 

April  16 
April  18 
April  22 
April  19 

Oct.    16,  '85 
Oct.     7,  '07 
Sept.  21,  '03 
Sept.  18,  '93 

6  mos.    6  days. 
5  mos.  27  days. 
5  mos.  11  days. 
5  mos.    6  days. 

*Loon 

April  13,  '92  only. 

Yellow-crowned  Night 
Heron 

April    2,  '15 

July  24,  '94 

3  mos.  22  days. 

Night  hawk  

April  15,  '87 

Oct.      6,  '86 

5  mos.  22  days. 

Catbird.  .. 

April  16,  '90,  '96 

April  20 

Oct.    21,  '93 

6  mos.    5  days.(o) 

Orchard  Oriole 

April  16,  '88 

April  25 

Aug.  22,  '93 

4  mos.    6  days. 

Yellow-breasted  Chat  ._ 
Wood  Pewee  ______ 

April  18,  '88 
April  18,  '10 

April  24 
April  25 

Sept.  13,  '01 
Oct.    13,  '91 

4  mos.  26  days. 
5  mos.  25  days. 

Prothonotary  Warbler  . 

April  18,  '87 

Aug.  26,  '90 

4  mos.    8  days. 

*  Water-thrush  

April  18,  '93 

April  27 

May  28,  '87 

1  mo.    10  days. 

*Black  Tern  

April  18,  '07 

May  10,  '98 

22  days. 

*Bobolink  

April  19,  '88 

May    2 

May  27,  '87 

1  mo.      8  days. 

Worm-eating  Warbler  __ 
Acadian  Flycatcher  
*Florida  Gallinule 

April  19,  '85,  '87 
April  20,  '94 
April  20,  '07  only. 

April  24 
April  30 

Sept.  20,  '93 
Sept.  11,  '88,  '93 

5  mos.    1  day. 
4  mos.  21  days. 

*LeConte's  Sparrow  

April  21,  '94  only. 

""Long-billed  Marsh  Wren 
*Rose-breasted  Grosbeak 

April  21,  '92 
April  22,  '09 

April  29 

May     7,  '05 
May     8,  '85,  '97 

16  days.(p) 
16  days. 

*Olive-backed  Thrush 

April  22  '92 

May  17,  '93 

25  days. 

*Scarlet  Tanager 

April  23,  '91 

May  17,  '93 

25  days. 

Kentucky  Warbler.  

April  18,  '10 

May     5 

Oct.    13,  '88 

5  mos.  26  days. 

Indigo  Bunting  

April  23,  '00 

May    2 

Oct.    19,  '07 

5  mos.  27  days. 

*Wilson's  Thrush  

April  23,  '85 

May  14,  '15 

21  days. 

*Bank  Swallow 

April  24,  '88  only. 

*Black-throated  Blue 
Warbler 

April  23,  '92 

April  27 

May  19,  '88 

27  days. 

*Cliff  Swallow 

April  26,  '89 

May    9,  '91 

13  days. 

""Baltimore  Oriole 

April  26,  '90 

May    4,  '15 

8  days. 

Blue  Grosbeak  

April  25,  '88 

May    3 

Sept.  27,  '87 

5  mos.    2  days. 

Bachman's  Warbler  
""Chestnut-sided  Warbler 

April  27,  '91 
April  27,  '86 

May  15,  '90 

18  days. 

""Black-poll  Warbler 

April  28,  '94 

May    4 

May  29,  '91 

1  mo.      1  day. 

""Least  Sandpiper 

April  30,  '85 

May  24,  '09 

24  days. 

Yellow-billed  Cuckoo.  ._ 
Black-billed  Cuckoo 

April  30,  '05,  '07 

May     2,  '87 

May    6 

Oct.    17,  '87 
Oct.    10,  '91 

5  mos.  17  days. 
5  mos.    8  days. 

Least  Bittern 

May    3,  '89 

Sept.  11,  '88 

4  mos.    8  days. 

*Bicknell's  Thrush 

May    3,  '94 

May  18,  '89 

15  days. 

""Short-billed  Marsh  Wren 
""Gray-cheeked  Thrush  . 

May    3,  '92  only. 
May    4,  '94 

May  24,  '92 

20  days. 

*Semi-palmated  Plover 

May    5,  '84 

May  22,  '09 

17  days. 

""Bay-breasted  Warbler  _  _ 
""Blue-winged  Warbler 

May     5,  '15  only. 
April  26,  '12 

May     6,  '07 

10  days. 

*Golden-winged  Warbler. 
*Cerulean  Warbler 

May    7,  '89,  '91 
May     8,  '93  only. 

""Magnolia  Warbler  _ 

May  10,  '89 

May  15,  '93 

5  days. 

""Wilson's  Warbler  

May  11,  '93 

May  19,  '15 

8  days. 

""Canadian  Warbler  

May  13,  '92,  and 

May  18, 

'12. 

*Alder  Flvcatcher... 

Mav  14.  '92 

Mav  16,  '93 

2  days. 

346 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 
SPRING  MIGRATION — Continued. 


Name  of  Bird. 

Earliest 
Arrival. 

Average 
Arrival. 

Latest  Noted. 

Length  of  Stay. 

*Semi-palraated  Sand- 
piper 

May  22,  '09  only. 

*White-rumped  Sand- 
piper   

May  22,  '09 

May  24,  '09 

2  days. 

fWood  Ibis 

July     4,  '06  only 

definite   d 

ate. 

fLittle  Blue  Heron  

June  21,  '94 

Aug.  21,  '93 

2  mos. 

fEgret  

July   15,  '84  only. 

NOTES  ON  PRECEDING  TABLE 

Unmarked  species  are  summer  visitors. 

*  Signifies  species  that  are  transients,  i.  e.,  here  only  during  migration. 

f  Signifies  summer  stragglers,  i.  e.,  species  that  wander  here  from  their  breeding  grounds  after 
the  young  are  able  to  fly. 

a.  Chipping  Sparrow  once  on  December  29,  1890. 

6.  Rusty  Blackbird  once  on  December  16,  1889. 

c.  King  Rail  once  each  on  January  23,  1890,  and  February  29,  1896. 

d.  Blue-headed  Vireo  once  each  on  December  15,  1885,  and  January  3,  1891. 

e.  Black-and-white  Warbler  once  on  November  10,  1885. 
/.  Bittern  once  on  December  7,  1886. 

f.  Maryland  Yellow-throat  occasional  in  winter. 
.  Blue-winged  Teal  once  on  December  7,  1893. 
i.  White-eyed  Vireo  once  on  March  3,  1890. 
j.  Tree  Swallow  once  on  March  12,  1887. 
k.  Bachman's  Sparrow  once  on  March  9,  1887. 
I.  Yellow  Warbler  only  very  occasional  after  July. 
m.  Virginia  Rail  once  on  March  7,  1891. 
n.  Coot  once  on  December  1,  1882. 

o.  Catbird  occasionally  seen  late  in  autumn  and  rarely  in  winter. 
p.  Long-billed  Marsh  Wren  seen  rarely  in  January  and  March. 

Where  no  average  dates  of  arrival  are  given,  the  records  are  either  too  meager  or  irregular  to 
warrant  such. 

Records  of  other  stragglers  are:  Dowitcher,  July  29,  1884;  White  Pelican,  May  12,  1884;  and 
Lark  Sparrow,  August  19,  1889,  and  October  23,  1893. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 
B.     FALL  MIGRATION 


347 


Name  of  Bird. 

Earliest 
Arrival. 

Average 
Arrival. 

Latest  Noted. 

Length  of  Stay. 

*Solitary  Sandpiper 

July   14,  '94 

Oct.    10,  '95 

2  mos.  27  days. 

*  Water  Thrush  

July  25,  '95 

Aug.  16 

Oct.     6,  '94 

2  mos.  11  days. 

*Black  Tern 

July  28,  '84 

Sept.  23,  '92 

1  mo.    26  days. 

"Barn  Swallow        

Aug.     6,  '99 

Aug.  10 

Sept.  16,  '86 

1  mo.    10  days. 

*Pied-billed  Grebe 

Aug.     7,  '08 

Sept.  31,  '00 

1  mo.    14  days. 

*Bank  Swallow 

Aug.     8,  '88  only. 

*Short-billcd  Marsh 
Wren  

Aug.  10,  '94 

Sept.  20,  '93 

1  mo.    10  days. 

*Bobolink  . 

Aug.  15,  '93 

Aug.  31 

Oct.     7,  '96 

1  mo.    25  days. 

Marsh  Hawk 

Aug.  15,  '96 

April  29,  '87 

8  mos.  14  days. 

Sharp-shinned  Hawk 

Aug.  17,  '88 

April  15,  '95 

7  mos.  29  days. 

"Chestnut-sided  Warbler. 
Migrant  Shrike 

Aug.  17,  '91 
Aug.  18,  '88 

Aug.  30 
Sept.    3 

Oct.    12,  '91 
April    1,  '15 

1  mo.    25  days. 
7  mos.  14  days. 

*Blue-winged  Warbler 

Aug.  20,  '08 

Sept.    4,  '88 

15  days. 

*Sora 

Aug.  21,  '94 

Oct.    30,  '91 

2  mos.    9  days. 

*Osprey        

Aug.  25,  '87  only. 

*Blackburnian  Warbler 

Aug.  25,  '87 

Oct.    13,  '91 

1  mo.    18  days.  (a) 

*Golden-winged  Warbler 

Aug.  26,  '86 

Aug.  30,  '93 

4  days. 

*Alder  Flycatcher 

Aug.  27,  '98  only. 

*Wilson's  Thrush 

Aug.  28,  '88 

Sept.  18,  '90 

21  days. 

*CfTulean  Warbler 

Aug.  29,  '89 

Sept.  17,  '87 

19  days. 

*Baltimore  Oriole 

Aug.  31,  '89 

Sept.  17,  '86 

17  days. 

"Pigeon  Hawk  

Sept.    2,  '10 

Oct.     2,  '86 

29  days. 

Cowbird 

Sept.    4,  '90 

April  29,  '99 

7  mos.  25  days. 

*Brewster's  Warbler 

Sept.    6,  '88  only. 

*Tree  Swallow 

Sept.    7,  '88 

Oct.    13,  '88 

1  mo.      6  days. 

*Black-throated  Green 
Warbler 

Sept.    7,  '91 

Oct.    16,  '93 

1  mo.      9  days. 

*  Virginia  Rail 

Sept.    8,  '96 

Oct.     9,  '93 

1  mo.      1  day. 

*Scarlet  Tanager 

Sept.  11,  '86 

Oct.    14,  '91 

1  mo.      3  days. 

*Magnolia  Warbler 

Sept.  11,  '87 

Oct.    20,  '90 

1  mo.      9  days. 

Red-breasted  Nuthatch 

Sept.  13,  '86 

April  10,  '97 

6  mos.  27  days. 

Savannah  Sparrow 

Sept.  16,  '87 

May     9,  '01 

7  mos.  23  days. 

Yellow  Palm  Warbler 

Sept.  16,  '87 

May     1,  '93 

7  mos.  16  days.  (6) 

*Tennessee  Warbler 

Sept.  19,  '89 

Oct.    12,  '87,  '88 

23  days,  (a) 

*Black-throated  Blue 
Warbler 

Sept.  20,  '93 

Oct.    23,  '91 

1  mo.      3  days.(c) 

*Long-billed  Marsh  Wren 

Sept.  20,  '92 

Oct.    19,  '92 

29  days. 

Wilson's  Snipe 

Sept.  20,  '93 

April  28,  '98 

7  mos.    8  days.(d) 

"House  Wren  

Sept.  21,  '08 

Oct.    16,  '88 

25  days. 

*Black-poll  Warbler.. 

Sept.  24,  '88 

Oct.     3 

Nov.    5,  '86 

1  mo.    11  days. 

Bewick's  Wren 

Sept.  24,  '05 

April    3,  '08 

5  mos.  10  days. 

Winter  Wren 

Sept.  26,  '87 

Oct.     9 

April  23,  '90 

6  mos.  27  days. 

*Olive-backed  Thrush 

Sept.  26,  '87 

Oct.    21,  '85 

25  days. 

Yellow-bellied  Sap- 
sucker 

Sept.  27,  '87 

Oct.    10 

April  29,  '87 

7  mos.    2  days. 

Meadowlark  

Sept.  28,  '89 

Oct.     7 

April  29,  '87 

7  mos.    1  day.(e) 

Ruby-crowned  Kinglet  . 
Song  Sparrow 

Oct.      1,  '88 
Oct.      2,  '91 

Oct.    15 
Oct.   10 

May  10,  '10 
April  28,  '15 

7  mos.    9  days. 
6  mos.  26  days. 

*Gray-cheeked  Thrush 

Oct.     2,  '88 

Oct.    10,  '90 

8  days. 

Brown  Creeper  _  

Oct.     3,  '88 

Oct.   10 

April  19,  '15 

6  mos.  16  days. 

*White-throated  Spar- 
row 

Oct.     4,  '88 

Oct.    14 

May  18,  '87 

7  mos.  14  days. 

Towhee 

Oct.     4,  '89 

Oct.    11 

May    6,'97,'07,'09 

7  mos.    2  days. 

Golden-crowned  Kinglet 
Swamp  Sparrow  

Oct.     7,  '89 
Oct.    10,  '88 

Oct.    15 
Oct.    19 

April  19,  '07 
May  19,  '93 

6  mos.  12  days. 
7  mos.    9  days. 

Myrtle  Warbler  

Oct.    11,  '86,  '89 

Oct.    17 

May  18,  '93 

7  mos.    6  days. 

Vesper  Sparrow  

Oct.    11,  '93 

Oct.    19 

May  11,  '93 

7  mos. 

"Connecticut  Warbler 

Oct.    14,  '84 

Oct.    24,  '96 

10  days,  (a) 

"Rusty  Blackbird-  

Oct.    17,  '92 

Oct.   25 

Nov.  26,  '86 

1  mo.      9  days.(/) 

Hermit  Thrush  _  _ 

Oct.    16,  '85 

Oct.   21 

April  29,  '97 

6  mos.  13  davs. 

348 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 
FALL  MIGRATION — Continued. 


Name  of  Bird. 

Earliest 
Arrival. 

Average 
Arrival. 

Latest  Noted. 

Length  of  Stay. 

Fox  Sparrow 

Oct.    17,  '93 

Nov.    8 

April    6,  '15 

5  mos.  20  days. 

Pipit 

Oct.    17,  '87,  '89 

Oct.    22 

April    6,  '15 

5  mos.  20  days. 

Slate-colored  Junco  
Purple  Finch 

Oct.    23,  '86 
Oct.    28,  '89,  '90 

Oct.   31 

April  24,  '07 
April  30,  '90 

6  mos.    1  day. 
6  mos.    2  days. 

Purple  Grackle 

Oct.    28,  '86 

May     8,  '86 

6  mos.  10  days.  (17) 

Pine  Siskin  

Nov.    3,  '86 

May  11,  '11 

6  mos.    8  days. 

*Cape  May  Warbler 

Nov.     1,  '11  only. 

Mallard 

Nov.    6,  '85,  '95 

April    7,  '85 

5  mos.    1  dav. 

Short-eared  Owl 

Nov.    8,  '87 

Feb.     9,  '10 

3  mos.    1  day. 

*Bronzed  Grackle 

Nov.    5,  '95,  '96 

Mar.    3,  '93 

3  mos.  26  days. 

*Loon 

Nov.  17,  '87 

Dec.     9,  '96 

1  mo.    22  days. 

*Coot-__ 

Nov.     1,  '91 

Dec.     1,  '09 

1  mo. 

*Pectoral  Sandpiper  
Black  Duck 

Nov.  15,  '94  only. 
Dec.     1,  '94 

April  11,  '95 

4  mos.  10  days. 

Green-winged  Teal 

Dec.     1,  '88 

April  13,  '00 

4  mos.  12  days. 

Horned  Lark 

Dec.     7,  '87 

Feb.  20,  '95 

2  mos.  13  days. 

Long-eared  Owl 

Dec.  15,  '98 

Feb.  24,  '10 

2  mos.    9  days. 

Lapland  Longspur 

Jan.    13,  '93 

Feb.  20,  '95 

1  mo.      7  days. 

Crossbill 

Jan.    16,  '97 

Mar.  23,  '85 

2  mos.    7  days.(i) 

Saw-whet  OwL           _   _ 

Dec.   18,  '94 

Prairie  Horned  Lark 

Dec.     7,  '87 

Feb.  20,  '95 

2  mos.  13  days. 

*Blue-winged  Teal 

Oct.    19,  '88 

Dec.     7,  '93 

1  mo.    19  days. 

White-winged  Crossbill  _ 

Feb.  23,  '07  only. 

NOTES  ON   FALL  MIGRATION 

Unmarked  species  are  winter  visitors. 
*  Signifies  species  that  are  transients  only. 

a.  Have  so  far  been  taken  in  fall  only. 

b.  Yellow  Palm  Warbler  is  occasional  in  winter,  but  never  common  then,  though  sometimes 
so  in  the  spring  or  fall  migrations. 

c.  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler  also  once  on  November  19. 

d.  Wilson's  Snipe  is  liable  to  occur  at  any  time  within  the  dates  mentioned,  but  is  rarely  com- 
mon except  during  the  spring  migration  in  March. 

e.  Meadowlark  also  taken  on  August  8. 

/.  Rusty  Blackbird  also  once  on  December  16,  1889. 

g.  Purple  Grackle  observed  twice  in  June  (1  taken  June  16,  1891). 

h.  American  Crossbill  also  taken  on  May  9,  1907,  and  on  June  5,  1887. 

i.  Blue-winged  Teal  probably  occurs  all  winter,  but  is  certainly  more  likely  to  appear  during 
the  migrations. 

Besides  the  ducks  in  the  above  list,  the  following  water-fowl  have  been  taken  or  seen  at  Raleigh 
during  the  winter  or  the  migrations:  Baldpate,  April" 26,  1892,  and  November  12,  1891;  Lesser 
Scaup  Duck,  January  2,  1895,  March  10,  1891,  March  28,  1908;  also  seen  on  June  1,  1900;  Buffle- 
head,  December  6,  1893;  Hooded  Merganser,  November  24,  1888,  January  31,  1908;  Old  Squaw, 
January  14,  1910;  Shoveller,  March  31,  1902,  a  pair  seen;  Horned  Grebe,  January  14,  1909. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST 


349 


III.     SONG-PERIOD  OF  BIRDS  AT  RALEIGH 

RECORDED  BY  C.  S.  BRIMLEY. 

The  song-periods  assigned  to  the  different  species  named  below  are  based  on  data  collected  at 
Raleigh  for  one  year  only,  viz. :  June,  1908,  to  June,  1909,  and  therefore  can  only  be  considered 
approximations.  It  must  also  be  remembered  that  spring  is  the  main  song-period  of  most  North 
Carolina  birds,  and  that  when  a  species  is  here  mentioned  as  singing  at  other  periods  the  songs 
are  usually  then  of  less  than  ordinary  duration  and  volume. 


Name  of  Bird. 

Period  of  Stay. 

Song-period. 

Bewick's  Wren 

Oct.-Mar. 

Late  Jan.  -late  Feb. 

Blue  Grosbeak 

May-Sept. 

May-July.  (1) 

Cardinal  

Whole  year 

Mar.-July.(2) 

Carolina  Wren  

Whole  year 

Whole  year. 

Catbird 

April-Oct. 

April-July.  (3) 

Chipping  Sparrow 

Mar.-Nov. 

Mar.-Aug. 

Field  Sparrow 

Whole  year 

Feb.  -Aug. 

Fox  Sparrow  ._ 

Nov.-Mar. 

Nov.-Jan. 

Hermit  Thrush  _       ___ 

Oct.-April 

Heard  once  in  November. 

Hooded  Warbler 

April-Sept. 

April-July. 

Indigo  Bunting 

April-Oct. 

April-Julv.  (4) 

Kentucky  Warbler 

April-Sept. 

April-  June. 

Meadowlark.   

Oct.-April 

Feb.-April. 

Maryland  Yellow-throat  _       _   _   ._ 

Mar.-Oct. 

Mar.  -July. 

Mockingbird  . 

Whole  year 

Mar.-July  and  Sept.-Nov. 

Orchard  Oriole 

April-Aug. 

April-  June. 

Pine  Warbler         _   _ 

Whole  year 

Jan.  -May  and  Sept.  (5) 

Prairie  Warbler  

April-Sept. 

April-  June. 

Parula  Warbler 

April-Oct. 

April-July. 

Red-eyed  Vireo      _    _   

April-Oct. 

April-July. 

Redstart   __  _  

April-Oct. 

April-July. 

Robin  _   

Whole  year 

Mar.-July.  (6) 

Ruby-crowned  Kinglet 

Oct.-April 

Mar  .-April.  (7) 

Song  Sparrow  . 

Oct.-April 

Oct.-April. 

Summer  Tanager..   

April-Sept. 

April-June.  (8) 

White-throated  Sparrow  _ 

Oct.-May 

Oct.-May. 

White-eyed  Vireo  ____ 

Mar.-Oct. 

Mar.-Oct. 

Wood  Thrush  

April-Oct. 

April-July. 

Yellow  Warbler                   

April-July 

April-July.  (9) 

Yellow-breasted  Chat 

April-Sept. 

April-  July. 

Yellow-throated  Warbler  

Mar.-Sept. 

Mar.  -June. 

Yellow-throated  Vireo  

April-Sept. 

April-Sept. 

(1)  Also  once  in  August. 

(2)  Also  heard  twice  in  November  and  twice  in  January. 

(3)  Also  once  in  August. 

(4)  Also  once  in  August. 

(5)  Occasionally  heard  almost  any  time  in  the  year. 

(6)  Occasionally  in  August. 

(7)  Also  once  in  November. 

(8)  Once  heard  in  each  of  the  three  months,  July,  August,  and  September. 

(9)  Occasional  specimen  is  seen  later  than  July. 

The  song-period  given  for  the  winter  birds  is  marked  by  the  sporadic  singing  of  occasional 
birds  throughout  the  period  named,  rather  than  by  the  species  being  in  full  song  at  any  time. 


350  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


GLOSSARY 

Adult:     Fully  grown;  possessing  the  fullest  development  of  plumage. 

Attenuate:     Diminished  to  a  sharp  point,  as  a  bill. 

Basal,  Base:     That  portion  of  the  bill,  or  of  a  feather,  etc.,  next  to  the  body. 

Belly:     That  part  of  the  under  surface  between  and  behind  the  thighs;  the  abdomen. 

Bend  of  Wing:     The  front  end  of  the  folded  wing,  covering  the  carpal  joint. 

Breast:     The  forward  portion  of  the  under  surface,  covering  the  thorax. 

Cere:     A  covering  of  naked  skin  over  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible. 

Chin:     The  region  between  the  lower  mandibles. 

Commissure:     The  line  where  the  upper  and  lower  mandibles  meet;  gape. 

Compressed:     Flattened  in  a  vertical  plane. 

Crested:     With  lengthened  feathers  on  the  head. 

Conirostral:     Having  a  conical  bill,  as  a  finch. 

Crepuscular:     Flying  at  dusk;  fond  of  twilight. 

Crissum:     The  region  of  the  under  tail-coverts. 

Crown:     The  top  of  the  head. 

Culmen:     The  middle  line  of  the  top  of  upper  mandible  from  base  to  tip. 

Decurved:     Curved  downward. 

Depressed:     Flattened  in  a  horizontal  plane. 

Emarginate:     Slightly  notched. 

Extensible:     Capable  of  being  extended. 

Falcate:     Curved;  scimitar-shaped. 

Flanks:     The  sides,  between  the  rump  and  the  abdomen. 

Frontal  Processes:     Swellings  on  the  forehead,  as  in  some  ducks. 

Gape:     The  opening  of  the  mouth. 

Gonys:     The  middle  line  of  the  lower  mandible,  where  the  two  branches  are  joined. 

Gular:     Belonging  to  the  throat:  said  of  the  pouches  of  pelicans,  etc. 

Immature:     Not  fully  plumaged:  said,  usually,  of  birds  less  than  a  year  old. 

Lamellae:     The  plates  forming  the  edge  of  a  duck's  bill. 

Lateral:     On  the  side. 

Lobate:     With  broad  membranous  flaps  on  each  side:  said  of  toes. 

Lores,  Loral  Region:     The  part  between  the  eyes  and  bill. 

Mandibles:     The  upper  and  lower  halves  of  the  bill. 

Mantle:  A  term  applied  to  the  wings  and  back  of  a  bird,  especially  a  gull  or  tern,  with  reference 
to  a  uniform  area  of  color. 

Measurements:  The  usual  measurements  given  for  birds  are:  Length,  (L)  _  measured  from 
tip  of  bill  to  tip  of  tail;  Wing,  (w)  measured  from  the  bend  of  the  wing  to  the  tip  of  the  longest 
quill;  Tail,  (T)  measured  from  the  base  to  the  tip  of  the  longest  tail-quill;  Tarsus,  (TAR)  is  the 
distance  from  the  base  of  the  toes  to  the  end  of  the  tibia;  Bill,  (B)  measured  from  base  of 
feathers  on  forehead  to  tip  of  upper  mandible,  in  a  straight  line. 

Median:     Belonging  to  the  middle. 

Nape:     The  back  of  the  head,  just  below  the  occiput  and  above  the  neck. 

Nasal  Groove:     A  groove  running  forward  from  the  nostril. 

Nasal  Tufts:     Tufts  of  small  feathers  growing  forward  over  the  nostril. 

Obtuse:     Blunt. 

Occiput:     The  back  part  of  the  top  of  the  head,  just  above  the  nape. 

Orbit:     Relating  to  a  space  around  the  eye,  as  the  orbital  ring. 

Pectinate:     With  teeth  like  a  comb. 

Primaries:  The  longest  wing-quills,  those  growing  from  the  hand-  and  finger-bones  (the 
pinion)  of  the  wing. 

Recurved:     Curved  upwards. 

Reticulate:     Forming  a  network  of  small  scales:  said  of  the  scales  on  a  bird's  tarsus. 

Reversible:     Capable  of  being  turned  back. 

Rictal:     Belonging  to,  or  at,  the  gape. 

Rump:     The  hinder  part  of  a  bird's  back  just  in  front  of  the  upper  tail-coverts. 

Scapulars:     The  feathers  growing  from  the  shoulders. 

Scutellate:     Having  broad,  band-like  plates  across  the  whole  front:  said  of  a  tarsus. 

Secondaries:     The  smaller  quils  springing  from  the  forearm. 

Semipalmate:     Webbed  at  base  only. 

Serrate:     With  sharp,  saw-like  edge. 

Sides:    The  part  which  is  beneath  the  wings  and  above  the  breast. 

Sinuated:     Irregulaily  or  wavily  curved. 

Speculum:    An  oblong  patch  of  metallic  color  on  the  secondaries,  as  in  some  ducks. 

Sub-basal:     Below  the  base. 

Subulate:    Awl-shaped. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  351 


Tail-coverts:  The  smaller  feathers  at  the  base  of  the  large  tail-feathers.  Those  on  the  top 
are  called  the  upper  tail-coverts;  those  underneath,  the  lower  or  under  tail-coverts. 

Tarsus:  The  portion  of  a  bird's  leg  between  the  base  of  the  toes  and  the  heel,  or  so-called 
knee  joint. 

Tertiari.es:     The  feathers  growing  from  the  joint  of  the  wing  next  to  the  body. 

Thigh:  An  incorrect  name  for  the  leg  above  the  tarsus.  This  is  really  the  lower  half  of  the 
leg,  and  contains  the  tibia  and  fibula  (bones),  while  the  true  thigh  (femur)  is  within  the  body. 

Throat:     The  surface  of  the  gullet,  between  the  chin  and  the  breast. 

Truncate:     Cut  squarely  off  at  end. 

Wing-coverts:    The  small  feathers  overlying  the  base  of  the  wing-quills,  both  above  and  below. 


GENERAL,  INDEX 


(For  common  names  of  birds  and  scientific  names  of  orders,  families,  genera,  and  species,  see 

the  following  special  indexes.) 


A 


Adickes,  T.  W.,  22,  218,  296 

Agricultural  and  Engineering  College,  229 

Alamance  County,  177 

Albemarle  Sound,  21/226 

Alexander  County,  255,  276,  297 

Alleghanian  Zone,   10,   11,  285 

Alleghany  Mountains,  249,  256 

Allen,  J.  J.,  93 

Amadas,  Captain,  1 

American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  53, 

110,  121,  281 
Andrews,  163,  224,  228,  237,  243,  247,  274, 

279,   283,   286,   287,   288,   290,   292,   293, 

303,  314,  330,  334 
Aquone,  248,  334 

Barlowe,  Captain,  1 

Barnes,  275 

Barton,  93 

Bartram,  Wm.,  5 

Batchelder,  Charles,  6 

Battle,  K.  P.,  157 

Bay  of  Fundy,  28 

Beaufort,  25,  30,  42,  43,  44,  87,  93,  100, 
102,  106,  119,  122,  127,  133,  135,  137, 
139,  143,  144,  164,  215,  226,  239,  240, 
241,  249,  252,  256,  275,  287 

Beaufort  County,  196,  310 

Beaufort  Harbor,  44 

Belhaven,  173 

Belvidere,  334 

Bendire,  173,  192,  194,  197,  217,  219 

Bertie  County,  114,  170,  186,  188,  191,  196, 
221,  253,  259,  266,  275,  276,  281,  300, 
305,  310,  322 

Bigham,  J.  H.,  50 

Big  Snowbird  Mountains,  246,  323,  330 

Bingham  School,  157 

Bird  Distribution,  10-12 

Birds  of  Prey,   Description  of,  159 

Bishop,  Dr.  Louis  B.,  7,  22,  25,  28,  30,  32, 
33,  35,  36,  37,  39,  46,  59,  62,  82,  84,  86, 
96,  100,  101,  102,  110,  111,  112,  119,  122, 
127,  132,  133,  135,  138,  140,  144,  148, 
211,  224,  230,  231,  233,  235,  236,  239, 
240,  241,  249,  251,  265,  318,  319 
23 


B 


Armfield,  Joseph,  221,  237 

Asheville,   19,  30,   115,   173,   179,  225,  249, 

283,  284,  288,  290,  305,  307,  314,  332 
Atkinson,  42,  87,  96,  101,  106,  127,  243,  244, 

251 
Atlantic  Coast,  22,  33,  35,  36,  62,  72,  86,  87, 

94,  116,  122,  142,  144,  219,  235 
Audubon,  John  James,  2,  5 
Audubon  Law,  9 

Audubon  Society,   Objects  of,  8 
Audubon  Society,  The  State,  7,  9,  10,  31, 

34,  36,  37 

Austro-riparian  Zone,  11 
Avery  County,  75,  249,  271 


Black  Mountain,  232,  286,  316,  320,  323, 
325,  327,  330,  331,  332 

Black  Mountains,  163,  206,  229,  246 

Bladen  County,  39,  57,  58,  59,  78,  120,  177, 
191,  252,  275,  295 

Blantyre,  234,  237,  248,  279,  283,  286,  290, 
296,  314,  334 

Blowing  Rock,  39,  170,  232,  234,  246,  249, 
271,  286,  290,  292,  294,  307,  314,  331, 
332,  334 

Blue  Ridge,  West  of,  116 

Bodie  Island,  119,  235,  318,  319 

Bogue  Beach,  87 

Boone,  249 

Boynton,  C.  L.,  206,  210,  307,  323 

Bowdish,  19,  33,  275,  276 

Brewster,  Wm.,  6,  61,  78,  79,  115,  157,  191, 
206,  210,  214,  228,  237,  247,  248,  271, 
279,  280,  285,  290,  292,  293,  294,  297, 
319,  320,  325,  330 

Brickell,  Dr.  John,  4 

Brimley,  C.  S.,  7,  10,  65,  66,  67,  79,  81,  89, 
96,  97,  106,  108,  111,  113,  148,  165,  172, 
174,  186,  191,  197,  205,  210,  219,  221, 
224,  228,  232,  234,  236,  237,  238,  239, 
242,  244,  247,  249,  252,  259,  260,  262, 
265,  266,  268,  271,  274,  276,  277,  278, 
283,  286,  289,  290,  292,  293,  294,  298, 
306,  310,  311,  314,  317,  320,  323,  327, 
330,  331,  334 


354 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Brimley,  H.  H.,  7,  18,  19,  22,  28,  39,  43,  47, 
49,  55,  57,  58,  59,  63,  67,  73,  75,  77,  78, 
89,  96,  97,  100,  103,  106,  107,  110,  111, 
112,  113,  114,  118,  120,  130,  140,  144, 
151,  155,  157,  168,  169,  172,  215,  218, 
224,  236,  237,  238,  240,  261,  262,  276, 
278,  279,  281,  288,  290,  295,  300,  306, 
307,  310,  317,  327 

Brinson,  C.  S.,  73,  76 

Bruner,  Stephen  C.,  39,  43,  75,  115,  127, 
133,  214,  229,  234,  237,  240,  243,  244, 
249,  252,  255,  256,  271,  278,  283,  286, 
290,  292,  293,  294,  297,  300,  306,  311, 
320,  323,  327 

Brunswick  County,  5,  47,  49,  98,  100,  102, 
103,  106,  107,  110,  139,  141,  144,  151, 
175,  177,  191,  219,  225,  247,  252,  256, 
266,  275 


Buffalo's  Pond,  95 

Buncombe  County,  7,  50,  57,  67,  69,  75, 
76,  78,  79,  80,  81,  96,  97,  101,  105,  112, 
115,  136,  141,  146,  157,  158,  161,  164, 
165,  168,  169,  170,  173,  174,  175,  178, 
179,  189,  190,  191,  199,  206,  208,  209, 
210,  212,  213,  214,  219,  221,  224,  226, 
228,  229,  231,  234,  236,  237,  238,  242, 
243,  246,  247,  248,  249,  250,  252,  253, 
257,  262,  267,  269,  271,  276,  278,  279, 
280,  281,  282,  283,  288,  292,  293,  295, 
296,  308,  314,  315,  320,  322,  325,  330 

Burke  County,  283 

Burns,  Frank  L.,  284 

Busbee,  J.  L.,  101,  243 

Bush,   Dr.   C.    C.,   86 

Bushnell,  214 

Byrd,  Col.  Wm.,  3 


Cabot,  Samuel,  280 

Cabarrus  County,  173 

Cairns,  J.  S.,  6,  19,  30,  50,  57,  66,  67,  69, 
75,  76,  78,  79,  80,  81,  96,  97,  101,  112, 
115,  136,  146,  157,  161,  164,  165,  168, 
169,  170,  173,  174,  175,  179,  184,  186, 
189,  190,  191,  206,  208,  209,  210,  212, 
213,  219,  221,  224,  226,  228,  229,  232, 
234,  236,  237,  238,  243,  248,  249,  252, 
253,  254,  255,  260,  262,  267,  269,  271, 
276,  278,  279,  280,  281,  282,  283,  285, 
286,  288,  290,  292,  293,  295,  296,  306, 
307,  308,  314,  316,  317,  318,  320,  322, 
323,  324,  325,  330,  331,  332 

Caldwell  County,  249,  271,  293,  297 

Campbelltown,   (now  Fayetteville),  5 

Canadian  Zone,  10,  11,  285 

Cape  Fear  River,  2,  93,  144,  261 

Cape  Hatteras,  25,  42,  52,  54,  55,  58,  69, 
81,  86,  89,  91,  102,  128,  132,  143,  196, 
249,  262,  275,  298 

Cape  Lookout,  21,  22,  23,  24,  25,  28,  43,  44, 
53,  119,  150,  151,  152 

Caraleigh  Mills,  179 

Carolinian  Zone,  11 

Carteret  County,  6,  28,  40,  49,  75,  98,  100, 
102,  103,  105,  106,  112,  139,  144,  150,  151, 
177, 179, 191,  218,  252,  275 

Caswell  County,  172 

Catawba  River,  50,  95 

Catesby,  Mark,  3 

Chapel  Hill,  7,  18,  19,  95,  96,  100,  154,  157, 
161,  168,  169,  172,  174,  183,  191,  193, 
197,  199,  211,  223,  224,  231,  243,  244, 


247,   251,   254,   267,   283,   290,   292,   300, 

311,  330,  332,  334 
Chapman,    Frank   M.,    142,    241,    258,    280, 

303,  304. 

Charleston  Museum,  107 
Charlotte,  191 
Chatham  County,  156 
Cherokee  County,  163,  170,   191,  203,  214, 

224,   228,   237,    244,   246,   247,    249,    271, 

276,  279,  283,  286,  303 
Cherry,  R.  A.,  170 
Church's  Island,  121,  128,  146 
Clarendon  (Cape  Fear)  River,  2,  5 
Clark,  Captain  Haywood,  170 
Clarke  and  Morgan,  114,  214 
Cleelum,  284 
Cloudland,  327 
Coggins,  236 
Coles,  Russell  J.,  53 
Collett,   163,  203,  219,  244,  247,  249,  286, 

323,  330 

Columbus  County,  162 
Cone's  Lake,  39 
Cooke,  W.  W.,  82,  91,  93,  133,  146,  185,  242, 

290,  296,  298 
Coot's  Gap,  247 
Coover,  J.  H.,  50 
Core  Sound,  54,  71,  73,  74,  83,  87,  106,  139, 

171 

Corncake  Inlet,  150 
Coues,  Dr.  Elliott,  6,  18,  32,  34,  35,  36,  39, 

43,  46,  62,  65,  78,  96,  100,  112,  122,  131, 

135,    141,    143,    144,    146,    164,    165,    220, 

235,  239,  240,  241,  249,  262,  317,  319,  331 


GENERAL  INDEX  355 


Cowee  Mountain  Range,  292  Cumberland  County,  39,  177 

Cranberry,  241,  242,  244,  246,  247,  249  Currituck,  61,  63,  64,  67,  73,  76,  85,  87,  121, 

Crane  Neck,  100,  102  135,  142 

"Crane  Neck"  Heronry,  98  Currituck  Beach,  121,  128,  146 

Craggy  Mountain,  189,  213,  271,  286,  290,  Currituck  County,  89,   121,   191,  235,  280, 

307,  332  281,  304 

Craven  County,  19,  23,  49,  79,  98,  103,  113,  Currituck  Shooting  Club,  25,  57,  64 

114,   158,    162,    175,    177,    179,    181,   191,  Currituck  Sound,  23,  24,  25,  53,  57,  59,  63, 

193,   200,   215,   221,   225,   247,   252,   260,  72,  73,  74,  75,  85,  87,  89,  91,  92,  116,  121, 

262,  275,  276,  281,  295,  300  171,  230,  281,  328 
Craven  County  Lakes,  275 

D 

Dare  County,  7,  18,  33,  40,  59,  82,  98,  111,  Descriptive  List  of  North  Carolina  Birds, 

112,  119,  122,  140,  171,  177,  216,  235,  240,  17-335 

275  Dillsboro,  262 

Davidson  County,  156,  177  Double  Spring  Gap,  320,  323,  327 

Davis,  James,  44  Dunlap,  J.  J.,  18 

Davis,  M.  Leslie,  119,  269,  288,  332  Dunn,  Wm.,  75 

Description  of  Birds  of  Prey,   159  Durham,  122, 206, 218,  223,  267,  292,  304,  306 

Description  of  Shore-Birds,  116-118  Dutchman's  Creek,  106,  110 

E 

Eaton,  26  Elizabeth  City,  275 

Edenton,  185,  276  Esaw  Indians,  2 

Edgecombe  County,  266  Etheridge,  J.  B.,  18,  25,  28,  135 

Edgemont,  293,  297  Explanations  of  Keys  and  Descriptions,  13 

Edwards,  L.  T.,  158 

F 

Feild,  A.  L.,  75,  191,  214,  247,  249,  286,  292,  Fort  Macon,  6,  18,  32,  35,  36,  39,  43,  46,  62, 

297,  307,  320,  323,  327  65,  78,  87,  96,  101,  110,  122,  146,  165,  172, 

Fenno,  L.  C.,  64  235,  240,  241,  249,  262,  317,  319,  331 

Fisher,  182  Franklin,  237,  247,  334 

Foley,  Lieutenant,  24  Franklin  County,  92 

Forst,  J.  R.,  143  French  Broad  River,  50,  249 
Forsyth  County,  300 

G 

Garner,  95  Greensboro,  7,  9,  19,  21,  25,  32,  39,  46,  93, 

Gaskin,  Wm.  H.,  44  112,  161,  179,  184,  187,  221,  225,  234,  237, 

Gates  County,  188,  264,  275  247,  252,  260,  267,  323,  334 

Gatesville,  275,  334  Greensboro  Female  College,  174,  225 

Gault,  303  Greensboro,   Mill  Pond  near,  93 

Geological  and  Economic  Survey,  State,  10  Grimesland,  334 

Gould,  J.  E.,  276  Grinnell,  87,  91 

Gould,  N.  E.,  30,  119  Griscom,  Ludlow,  230,  232,  280,  281,  304, 

Graham  County,  246,  323,  330  328 

Grandfather  Mountain,  213,  286,  292,  307,  Guilford  College,  7,  19,  23,  46,  106,  141,  165, 

316,  320,  327  192,  207,  247,  254,  267,  274,  328 

Granville  County,  165,  184  Guilford  County,  7,  59,  60,   106,   113,   125, 

Graybeard  Mountain,  191  156,  165,  175,  177,  178,  179,  184,  193,  221, 

Great  Lake,  49,  98,  103,  105,  175,  200,  275,  260,   285,   322,   330 

276,  281  Gull  Shoal  Island,  54,  111,  319 
Great  Smoky  Mountains,  320 


356 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Harbeck,  Dr.  E.  V.,  284 

Harlot,  Thomas,  1 

Barker's  Island,  106 

Harriett  County,  21 

Harper,  Francis,  100 

Harvard,  286 

Hatch,  Dr.,  142 

Hatteras,  91,  110 

Hatteras  Inlet,  28 

Hatteras  Island,  171 

Haynes,  M.  W.,  112 

Haywood  County,  174,  210,  214,  246,  248, 

249,  271,  314,  320,  323,  327 
Hazard,  Captain,  217 


Henderson  County,  248,  283 

Hendersonville,  213,  248,  283,  294,  334 

Highlands,  19,  191,  206,  210,  213,  228,  232, 
246,  248,  252,  271,  279,  286,  290,  292,  294, 
302,  303,  307,  314,  320,  323,  330 

Hooker,  C.  R.,  28 

Hoopes,  236 

Howell,  171 

Hoy,  Dr.  P.  R.,  182 

Huger,  Miss  M.  E.,  191,  303 

Huntington,  Dwight  W.,  80,  141 

Hyde  County,  40,  48,  103,  104,  184,  216, 
222,  297,  315,  317 


Iredell  County,  282 


Jackson  County,  210,  214,  248,  279,  292 

Jacksonville,  275 

James  River,  3 

Jamestown,  113 

Jeffries,  W.  A.  and  J.  A.,  262 

Jennett,  N.  F.,  33,  35 

Joanna  Bald  Mountain,  191,286,292,  330,  334 


Johnson,  J.  M.,  230,  281,  328 
Johnston  County,  106,  173 
Jones's  Balsam  Mountain,  325 
Jones's  Mill  Pond,  49,  100,  102 
Jordan,  J.  F.,  39 
Juniper  Bay,  317 


Kelford,  266 

Keys  and  Descriptions,  Explanations  of,  13 

Key  to  the  Orders,   14-15 

Kingsboro,  266 


Kitty  Hawk  Bay,  81 

Knott's  Island,  121 

Kobbe,  Frederick  Wm.,  121,  135,  142,  144 

Kopman,  247,  327,  332 


Ladd,  Dr.  Samuel  B.,  286,  288 

LaGrange,  221,  266,  295 

Lake  Ellis,  19,  59,  63,  67,  75,  77,  96,  97,  100, 
111,  112,  113,  114,  130,  136,  172,  186,  193, 
221,  252,  260,  262,  276,  281,  295,  300 

Lake  Head  Island,  103,  105 

Lake  Kawana,  75 

Lake  Landing,  104 

Lake  Mattamuskeet,  1,  103,  105,  222,  262, 
311 

Lake  Toxaway,  39,  271 

Lake  Worth,  75 

Lane,  "Tobe,"  143 

Latham,  F.  P.,  173 

Lawrence,  R.  B.,  121 

Lawson,  John,  1,  2,  3,  4 

Laurent,  P.,  249 

Laurinburg,  266 


Legged  Lump  Island,  35,  37 

Le  Moyne,  320 

Lenoir,  293 

Lenoir  County,  221,  252,  295 

Lewis,  Dr.  R.  H.,  10 

Life  Zones,  10-12 

Lindley  Park,  32 

Linnseus,  69 

Linville,  249,  294,  307 

Little  Lake,  276 

Little  Snowbird  Mountains,  246 

Lockwood's  Folly,  93,  144,  151,  256,  266 

Long  Island,  74 

Loomis,  213 

Louisburg,  92 

Lower  Austral  Region,  191,  197 

Lower  Austral  Zone,  11,  275,  277 


GENERAL  INDEX 


357 


M 


Mackey,  George  H.,  84 

MacNider,  G.  M.,  224 

Macon  County,  191,  210,  214,  232,  237,  246, 

247,  248,  271,  279,  292,  307 
Madison  County,  249 
Manchester,  39 
Manteo,  18,  122 
Martin  County,  219 
Mattamuskeet  Lake,  1,  103,  105,  222,  262, 

311 

Maynard,  C.  J.,  42,  120,  135,  317 
McAtee,  W.  L.,  121,  128,  146 
McDowell  County,  247,  249,  297 
McLaughlin,  R.  B.,  7,  113,  267,  271,  282 
Measurements  of  Birds,  14 
Mecklenburg  County,  19 


Nag's  Head,  122 

Narrows  Island  Shooting  Club,  25 

Nash  County,  184 

New  Bern,  18,  22,  23,  57,  59,  67,  75,  85,  87, 

106,  112,  143,  162,  177,  214,  224,  225,  262 
New  Hanover  County,  47,  111,  139,  150,  191, 

247,  256 


N 


Merriam,  Dr.  C.  Hart,  24,  182,  217 

Metcalf,  Z.  P.,  170,  213,  325 

Milburnie,  162 

Miller  Lump,  33 

Mitchell  County,  191,  242,  246,  249,  271,  327 

Montreat,  249,  278 

Moore  County,  191 

Moore,  S.  J.,  87 

Morehead  City,  24,  26,  28,  43,  46,  73,  87 

Morganton,  95,  255,  267,  271,  283,  284,  288, 

289,  293,  314 
Morrell,  C.  H.,  212 
Mount  Airy,  260 
Mount  Gilead,  122 
Mount  Mitchell,  316,  323,  327 
Moyle,  Rev.  S.  T.,  122 


New  Inlet,  81,  108,  240 

Neuse  River,  18,  22,  23,  162,  205,  295 

New  River,  73,  83 

Nichols,  John  T.,  53,  228 

North  River,  94,  102,  139,  144 

Nourve,  Mr.,  121 


Oberholser,  236 

Ocracoke,  34,  38,  39,  52,  53,  90,  151,  249 
Old  Fort,  228,  297 
Old  Richmond,  300 
Old  Topsail  Inlet,  319 

Onslow  County,  73,  83,  98,  106,  139,  150,  275 
Orange  County,  7,  114,  165,  168,  169,  172, 
276,  311,  315 


Oregon  Inlet,  82 

Oriental,  233 

Ornithological  Historical  Sketch,  1-6 

Ornithological  Work,  Recent,  6-7 

Orton,  275 

Orton  Plantation,  46,  98,  100,  175,  218 

Orton  Pond,  47,  49,  102,  144,  175,  225 


Pamlico  County,  177 

Pamlico  Sound,  8,  20,  21,  31,  34,  36,  39,  45, 
52,  53,  54,  57,  73,  83,  89,  90,  92,  108,  111, 
120,  151,  319 

Pamunkey  Island,  230,  280,  281,  328 

Parmele,  219 

Pasquotank  County,  275 

Patterson,  249 

Pea  Island,  7,  22,  25,  28,  30,  32,  35,  36,  37, 
39,  46,  62,  66,  78,  82,  84,  86,  96,  100,  101, 
102,  110,  111,  112,  127,  132,  133,  135,  137, 
139,  140,  144,  148,  211,  224,  230,  231,  233, 
235,  236,  239,  240,  241,  249,  261,  265,  318, 
319 

Pearson,  T.  Gilbert,  19,  21,  22,  23,  24,  25, 
26,  30,  32,  34,  39,  41,  43,  44,  46,  47,  48, 
49,  53,  57,  59,  65,  70,  75,  78,  81,  82,  86, 


89,  91,  93,  94,  96,  98,  100,  102,  103,  104, 
105,  106,  107,  108,  110,  111,  112,  113,  116, 
125,  128,  133,  139,  141,  144,  150,  151,  154, 
159,  161,  162,  165,  168,  169,  171,  172,  173, 
174,  175,  178,  179,  183,  187,  188,  191,  192, 
193,  195,  200,  207,  211,  215,  216,  219,  221, 
224,  233,  240,  244,  247,  249,  251,  252,  254, 
256,  261,  262,  263,  266,  274,  275,  278,  281, 
285,  287,  290,  292,  293,  297,  298,  307,  311, 
313,  316,  319,  322,  323,  328,  330,  331,  332, 
334 

Fender  County,  171 

Perquimans  County,  334 

Philadelphia  Academy  of  Natural  Science,  6, 
185 

Philipp,  P.  B.,  114,  275,  276 

Pilot  Mountain,  173 


358 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Finer,  Augustine,  24,  26,  43,  46 
Pitt  County,  252,  334 
Plymouth,  226,  240 
Poplar  Branch,  89 
Post,  Wm.  S.,  23,  91,  93 
Post,  W.  T.,  57 

Raleigh,  7,  11,  19,  21,  39,  43,  46,  50,  53,  59, 
64,  65,  67,  75,  80,  89,  95,  96,  97,  98,  100, 
106,  107,  108,  111,  113,  114,  115,  119,  127, 
129,  130,  131,  133,  136,  138,  140,  141,  146, 
148,  157,  169,  171,  173,  174,  175,  179,  180, 
181,  184,  186,  188,  191,  195,  196,  197, 
198,  199,  200,  203,  205,  206,  209,  211, 
212,  214,  219,  220,  222,  223,  224,  225,  226, 
229,  231,  232,  234,  235,  236,  237,  238,  239, 
241,  242,  243,  244,  247,  248,  250,  252,  254, 
260,  262,  263,  264,  267,  268,  270,  271,  272, 
274,  275,  277,  278,  279,  281,  282,  283,  284, 
285,  286,  287,  288,  290,  291,  292,  293,  294, 
295,  296,  297,  298,  300,  302,  304,  305,  306, 
307,  308,  310,  314,  317,  318,  319,  322,  327, 
328,  330,  331,  332,  333,  334,  335 

Randolph  County,  156,  177 


R 


Poteat,  Dr.  W.  L.,  334 
Poyner,  T.  J.,  87 
Primrose,  Owen,  106 
Primrose,  W.  S.,  146 
Pungo  Bluff,  317 


Recent  Ornithological  Work,  6-7 

Reed,  C.  A.,  256 

Rhoads,   191,  206,  210,  213,  229,  231,  286, 

292,  294,  307,  316,  320,  323,  330 
Richmond,  Charles  W.,  233 
Ridgway,  236 
Roan  Mountain,  124,  191,  206,  210,  213,  214, 

229,  231,  246,  286,  290,  292,  294,  307,  316, 

320,  323,  327,  330 

Roanoke  Island,  1,  18,  92,  122,  164,  171 
Roanoke  River,  226 

Roanoke  and  Tar  River  Gun  Club,  170 
Roberson,  J.  R.,  82 
Robertson,  265 
Rockingham  County,  252 
Royal  Shoal  Island,  31,  34,  35,  37,  40,  151 


Sanford,  72,  95,  138 

Sapona  River,  2 

Sapphire,  334 

Satula  Mountain,  252 

Schiefelin,  Eugene,  216 

Scotland  County,  266 

Seasonal  Distribution,  12 

Seeman,  218,  306 

Sennett,  George  B.,  124,  242 

Seton,  Ernest,  303 

Shackelford  Banks,  143,  287 

Shallotte,  102 

Sherman,  59,   191,  228,  234,  237,  249, 

261,  266,  271,  279,  284,  290,  292,  294, 

310,  316,  327,  330,  334 
Shore-Birds,   Description  of,   116 
Sloan's  Ferry,  50 
Smithwick,  42,  79,  105,  187,  188,  191, 

226,  239,  240,  253,  266,  269,  281,  295, 

310,  317,  322,  332 
Sohier,  W.,  91 
Speed,  170 


252, 
295, 


221, 
300, 


Sprunt,  James,  100 

Southern  Pines,  212,  247,  334 

Southport,  5,  106,  132,  144,  151,  219,  319 

South  River,  75 

State  Audubon  Society,  The,  7-9 

State  Museum,  18,  25,  28,  39,  46,  53,  76,  78, 

79,  81,  87,  93,  94,  106,  114,  119,  135,  159, 

170,  171,  173,  177,  184,  214,  230,  253,  303 
State  Normal  and  Industrial  College,  7,  25, 

46,  48,  187 
Statesville,  7,  113,  188,  199,  267,  271,  300, 

314 

State  University,    154,    157,    193,   330 
Stokes  County,  244,  252 
Stone,  W.  E.,  184 
Stump  Sound,  150 
Sunburst,  174,  314 
Surry  County,  173,  260 
Swain  County,  170,  214 
Swan  Island  Club,  76,  91 
Swannanoa,  249 


Tarboro,  112 
Tar  River,  92 
Taylorsville,  255,  294,  297 
Tennessee  River,  98 
Test  Farm,  266 


Thayer,  Gerald  H.,  28,  119,  280 
Thayer,  J.  E.,  25,  82 
Thomasville,  17V 
Tom  Branch,  46,  102 
Topography  of  a  Bird,  14 


GENERAL  INDEX 


359 


Topton,  214 

Toxaway,  294,  334 

Transition  Zone,  10 

Transylvania  County,  39,  234,  237,  248,  271, 

279,  283 
Trent  River,  87 


United  States  National  Museum,  241 


U 


Trinity  College,  122 
Tryon,  11,  213 
Tuckaseegee  River,  262 
Tuskwitty  Range,  246 
Tyrrell  County,  124 


Upper  Austral  Zone,  11 


Valle  Crucis,  249,  261 


Waccamaw  Lake,  162 
Waccamaw  River,  107 
Wake  County,  81,  95,  113,  115,  154,  162, 

165,  168,  169,  173,  177,  178,  179,  181,  191, 

193,  194,  209,  219,  242,  271,  275,  276,  281, 

305,  315 

Wakefield,  271,  275 
Wake  Forest,  334 
Walnut  Creek,  106,  113,  140 
Warren,  303 
WTarrenton,  267 
Watauga  County,   170,  232,  246,  249,  261, 

271 

Waterlily,  62,  75 
Wayah  Bald,  246 
Wayne,  Arthur  T.,  95,  107,  110,  111,  214, 

255,  267,  271,  277,  284,  288,  289,  293 
Waynesville,  325 
Weaverville,  6,  19,  66,  69,  112,  184,  200,  206, 

219,  224,  226,  231,  236,  237,  238,  248,  250, 

255,  260,  279,  281,  283,  285,  287,  291,  294, 


W 


Van  Dyke,  138,  141 


297,  306,  307,  314,  317,  318,  328,  331,  332, 

333 

Webb,  W.  M.,  73 
White,  Jasper  B.,  62,  75,  121,  128 
White  Lake,  19,  39,  57,  58,  59,  78,  120,  172, 

215,  275,  295 
Whitlock,  121,  135,  142 
Widmann,  Otto,  277 
Willis,  James,  87 
Wilmington,  5,  6,  46,  93,  101,  111,  144,  170, 

218,  260 

Wilson  (Town),  158 
Wilson,  Alexander,  5 
Wilson,  Bainbridge,  233 
Wilson,    Mrs.    Donald,    163,   224,   228,   243, 

279,  286,  293,  303 
Woodward,  P.  L.,  159 
Wrightsville,  260,  261 
Wrightsville  Sound,  93,  144 
Wysocking  Bay,  48 


Yancey  County,  286 


INDEX  OF  COMMON  NAMES 

(For  description  of  species  refer  to  pages  represented  by  black-face  figures) 


Acadian  Flycatcher,  207,  208 
Albatrosses,  15 
Alder  Flycatcher,  207,  209 
American  Quail,  152 

Vultures,  159 

Widgeon,  63 

Bachman's  Sparrow,  11,  247 

Warbler,  277 
Baird's  Sandpiper,  131 
Bald  Eagle,  2,  4,  116,  171,  172,  173,  175 
Baldpate,  54,  63,  64 
Baltimore  Oriole,  11,  12,  222,  223 
Bank  Swallow,  262,  263 
Barnacle  Goose,  88,  91 
Barn  Owl,  159,  177 

Swallow,  11,  13,  260,  261 
Barred  Owl,  180,  181 
Florida,  180 

Barrow's  Golden-eye,  77,  79 
Bartramian  Sandpiper,  140 
Bay-breasted  Warbler,  283,  287,  290 
Bay-winged  Bunting,  234 
Bee-martin,  172,  203 
Beetle-head,  117 
Belted  Kingfisner,  187 
Bewick's  Wren,  10,  313,  314,  315 
Bicknell's  Thrush,  329,  331 
Big  Blackhead,  73,  74 

Indigo,  255 
Birch  Warbler,  280 
Bird,  Butcher,  267 

Frigate,  53 

of  Freedom,  172 

of  Washington,  2 

Peabody,  243 

Sweet-Canada,  243 
Birds,  Diving,  17 

Gallinaceous,  152 

Man-o'war,  12,  45,  52,  53 

Marsh,  106 

of  Prey,  159 

Perching,  16,  201 

Reed,  217 

Shore,  116 

Surf,  150 

Tropic,  45 


B 


Ani,  12,  185 

Arctic  Tern,  33 

Audubon's  Shearwater,  41,  42,  43 

Auk,   Razor-billed,   23,   24 

Auks,  15,  17,  22 

Avocets,  118,  121,  122 

Bittern,  95 

Cory's  Least,  97 

Least,  96,  97 
Bitterns,  93,  95 
Black  and  White  Creeper,  273 

and  White  Warbler,  273,  274,  276,  291, 
293 

Duck,  2,  54,  58,  59,  60,  61,  62,  68,  76 

Eagle,  4 

Guillemot,  23 

Martin,  259 

Rail,  113 

Skimmer,  11,  40 

Snowbird,  246 

Tern,  39,  146 

Vulture,  11,  160,  161 

Witch,  185 

Black-backed  Gull,  Great,  27,  28 
Black-bellied  Plover,  2,  118,  145,  146 
Black-billed  Cuckoo,  185,  186,  187 
Blackbird,  Crow,  216,  224,  225 

Red-winged,  219,  220 

Rusty,  224 

Savannah,  185 
Blackbirds,  16,  202,  216,  283 
Blackburnian  Warbler,  10,  291,  292 
Blackcap,  Wilson's,  306 
Black-crowned  Night  Heron,  105 
Blackhead,  73,  74,  75,  76,  77,  90 

Big,  73,  74 

Little,  73,  74,  75,  76,  77 
Black-necked  Stilt,  122,  123 
Black-poll  Warbler,  283,  287,  290,  291 
Black-throated  Blue  Warbler,  282,  283,  285, 
286 

Bunting,  256 

Green  Warbler,  10,  11,  283,  294 
Bluebill,  75 
Bluebird,  329,  334,  335 


INDEX  OF  COMMON 


361 


Blue  Crane,  98 

Darter,  165 

Goose,  85,  87 

Grosbeak,  11,  254,  255 

Heron,  Great,  97,  98 

Heron,  Little,  11,  102,  103,  118 

Jay,  213 

Peter,  115 

Warbler,  Black-throated,  282,  283,  285, 
286 

Yellow-backed  Warbler,  281 
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher,  328 
Blue-headed  Vireo,  269,  270,  271 
Blue-tailed  Hawk,  165 
Blue-winged  Teal,  66 

Warbler,  277,  278,  279 
Boat-tailed  Grackle,  11,  117,  226 
Bobolink,  159,  217,  218 
Bob-whites,  15,  152,  153 
Bonaparte's  Gull,  27,  31,  32 
Boobies,  85 
Booby,  45,  46 
Brant,  54,  55,  88,  89,  90,  91 

White,  86,  87 
Breakhorn,  57 


Brewster's  Warbler,  279 
Broadbill,  73,  74,  76 
Broad-winged  Hawk,  167,  168,  169 
Bronzed  Grackle,  226 
Brown  Creeper,  10,  319,  320 

Pelican,  4,  49,  50,  51,  52 

Thrasher,  311,  312 

Thrush,  311 

Brown-headed  Nuthatch,  11,  309,  321,  323 
Briinnich's  Murre,  23 
Buff-breasted  Sandpiper,  141 
Bufflehead,  54,  79 
Bullbat,  8,  198,  199 
Bunting,  Bay-winged,  234 

Black-throated,  256 

Indigo,  255 

Lapland,  234 

Painted,  11,  255,  256 

Snow,  233 
Bush  Sparrow,  245 
Butcher  Bird,  267 
Buzzard,  160,  161,  166 

South  Carolina,  161 

Turkey,  160 


Cabot's  Tern,  33,  35 

Cairns's  Warbler,  7,  10,  282,  285,  286 

California  Condor,  159 

Canada  Goose,  54,  87,  88,  89 

Warbler,  10,  305,  307 
Canary,  Wild,  231 

Canvasback,  54,  64,  70,  71,  72,  73,  85,  90 
Cape  May  Warbler,  283,  284 
Caracaras,  173 
Cardinal,  252,  253,  254,  311 
Carolina  Chicadee,  11,  325 

Cuckoo,  4 

Junco,  10,  245,  246 

Paroquet,  1,  184 

Snowbird,  6,  246 

Wren,  11,  12,  302,  313,  314 
Caspian  Tern,  33 
Catbird,  12,  222,  310,  311 
Cat  Owl,  183 
Cedar-bird,  159,  264 
Cedar  Waxwing,  264 
Cerulean  Warbler,  283,  288,  289,  290 
Chat,  Yellow-breasted,  272,  304,  305 
Cherry-bird,  264 

Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  10,  283,  289 
Chewink,  251 


Chicadee,  10,  321,  325 

Black-capped,  10 

Carolina,  11,  325 
Chicken  Hawk,  165,  166,  167 
Chickens,  152,  182 

Mother  Gary's,  44 

Sea,  117,  118,  131,  132 
Chimney  Swallow,  199 

Swift,  199,  200 

Chipping  Sparrow,  228,  244,  245,  266 
Chuck-will's-widow,  11,  196,  197,  198 
Cinnamon  Teal,  173 
Clam-bird,  151 
Clapper  Rail,  11,  107,  108,  109,  110 

Wayne's,  107,  110 
Clay-colored  Sparrow,  243,  251 
Cliff  Swallow,  260 
Common  Loon,  20,  21,  22 

Tern,  33,  36 
Condor,  159 

California,  159 

Connecticut  Warbler,  146,  301,  302,  303 
Cooper's  Hawk,  165,  166 
Coot,  115,  116 

Sea,  83 
Coots,  2,  107,  111,  116 


362 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Cormorant,  Double-crested,  48,  49 

Florida,  11,  49 

Cormorants,  11,  15,  45,  47,  48,  49,  105 
Cory's  Least  Bittern,  97 

Shearwater,  41,  42 
Cowbird,  185,  219 
Crane,  Blue,  98 

Little  White,  103 

Sandhill,  2,  106,  107 

Savannah,  106 
Cranes,  1,  2,  15,  93,  97,  106 
Creek  Duck,  63 
Creeper,  Black  and  White,  273 

Brown,  10,  319,  320 
Creepers,  202,  319 
Crested  Flycatcher,  204 
Crossbill,  10,  229 

White-winged,  229,  230 


Crow,  215 

Blackbird,  216,  224,r225 

Fish,  11,  103,  117,  213,  216 
Crows,  179,  202,  204,  212,  213,  215,  216 
Crying-bird,  107 
Cuckoo,  4,  184,  185,  186 

Black-billed,  185,  186,  187 

Carolina,  4 

European,  185 

Yellow-billed,  185,  186 
Cuckoos,  15,  184,  185 
Curlew,  Eskimo,  143 

Hudsonian,  117,  143,  144 

Long-billed,  143 

Pink,  93 

Stone,  94 
Curlews,  123 


Darter,  Blue,  165 

Darters,  45,  46 

Dickcissel,  256 

Didapper,  19 

Diver,  Great  Northern,  20,  21 

Diving  Birds,  17,  25 

Double-crested  Cormorant,  48,  49 

Dove,  Ground,  158 

Mourning,  12,  157,  158,  159 

Stock,  1 
Doves,  15,  156 
Dovekie,  24 
Dowitcher,  2,  126,  127 

Long-billed,  127 
Downy  Woodpecker,  10,  189,  190,  191 

Southern,  11,  189,  190 

Duck,  Black,  2,  53,  54,  58,  59,  60,  61,  62, 
68,  76 

Creek,  63 

Fish,  55 


Duck,  Fisherman,  57,  58 

Fulvous  Tree,  91 

Gray,  62 

Hawk,  173 

Lesser  Scaup,  54,  70,  74,  77 

Raft,  54,  73 

Red-legged,  61 

Ring-necked,  70,  76,  77 

Ruddy,  54,  84,  85 

Saw,  57 

Scaup,  54,  70,  73,  74 

Summer,  69 

Winter,  61 

Wood,  53,  62,  69,  70,  76 
Ducks,  15,  25,  53,  55,  58,  82 

Fish,  55 

Old  Squaw,  81 

River,  54,  56 

Sea,  54,  56 

Tree,  55 


Eagle,  Bald,  2,  4,  116,  171,  172,  173,  175 

Black,  4 

Golden,  10,  170,  171 

Gray,  2,  4 

Eagles,  4,  159,  160,  162,  183 
Eaves  Swallow,  260 
Egret,  11,  99,  100 

Snowy,  11,  100,  101 
Eider,  82 

King,  81,  82 


English  Pheasant,  156 

Ring-necked  Pheasant,  156 

Snipe,  126 

Sparrow,  12,  216,  232,  256 
Eskimo  Curlew,  143 
European  Cuckoo,  185 

House  Sparrow,  232 

Teal,  64 

Widgeon,  63,  64 

Woodcock,  125 


INDEX  OF  COMMON  NAMES 


363 


Falcons,  Peregrine,  173 
Falcons,  1,  2,  159,  162,  173 
Field  Lark,  210,  220 

Sparrow,  243,  245 
Finch,  Grass,  234 

Purple,  227,  228 
Finches,  16,  216,  226,  255 
Fish  Crow,  11,  103,  117,  213,  216 

Duck,  55 

Fisherman  Duck,  57,  58 
Fish  Hawk,  162,  175 
Flicker,  70,  165,  182,  195,  196 

Northern,  195 
Florida  Barred  Owl,  180 

Cormorant,  11,  49 

Gallinule,  114,  115 

Screech  Owl,  182 

Yellow-throat,  304 
Flycatcher,  Acadian,  207,  208 

Alder,  207,  209 


Gadwall,  54,  62 
Gallinaceous  Birds,  152 
Gallinule,  Florida,  114,  115 

Purple,  113 
Gallinules,  2,  15,  107 
Gannet,  15,  45,  46 
Geese,  1,  15,  53,  54,  55,  82,  85 
Glaucous  Gull,  27 
Glossy  Ibis,  94 
Gnatcatcher,  Blue-gray,  328 
Gnatcatchers,  202,  326 
Goatsuckers,  16,  196 
Godwit,  Hudsonian,  134,  135 

Marbled,  134,  135 
Golden-crowned  Kinglet,  10,  326,  327 

Thrush,  299 
Golden  Eagle,  10,  170,  171 

Plover,  2,  116,  145,  146,  147 
Golden-eye,  77,  78 

Barrow's,  77,  79 

Golden-winged  Warbler,  10,  277,  278,  279 
Goldfinch,  11,  230,  231 
Good-God,  193 
Goosander,  57 
Goose,  Barnacle,  88,  91 

Blue,  85,  87 

Canada,  54,  87,  88,  89 

Greater  Snow,  85,  86 

Snow,  85,  87,  93 

White-fronted,  87,  88 

Wild,  53,  89 


G 


Flycatcher,  Crested,  204 

Fork-tailed,  202 

Green-crested,  207 

Least,  11,  207,  209,  210 

Olive-sided,  11,  205,  206 

Scissor-tailed,  202 

Traill's,  209 

Yellow-bellied,  207 
Fly-catching  Warbler,  306 
Flycatchers,  16,  201,  202,  206,  207 

Tyrant,  202 
Flying  Colt,  141 
Fly-up-the-Creek,  104 
Fork-tailed  Flycatcher,  202 
Forster's  Tern,  33,  35 
Fox  Sparrow,  251 
French  Mockingbird,  267 
Frigate  Bird,  53 
Fulmars,  15,  41 
Fulvous  Tree  Duck,  91 


Goshawk,  164 

Grackle,  Boat-tailed,  11,  117,  226 

Bronzed,  225,  226 

Purple,  225 
Grackles,  224 
Grass  Finch,  234 
Grasshopper  Sparrow,  236,  237 
Grayback,  127 

Gray-cheeked  Thrush,  329,  331,  332 
Gray  Duck,  62 

Eagle,  2,  4, 

Kingbird,  203 
Great  Black-backed  Gull,  27,  28 

Blue  Heron,  97,  98 

Horned  Owl,  178,  179,  182,  183,  184 

Northern  Diver,  20,  21 
Greater  Shearwater,  41,  42 

Snow  Goose,  85,  87,  93 

Yellow-legs,  118,  136,  137 
Grebe,  Holboell's,  17,  18 

Horned,  18,  19 

Pied-billed,  19 
Grebes,  15,  17,  19 
Green-crested  Flycatcher,  207 
Green  Heron,  104 

Warbler,  Black-throated,  10,  11,  283,  294 
Green-winged  Teal,  64,  65,  66 
Grosbeak,  Blue,  11,  254,  255 

Rose-breasted,  11,  253,  254 
Ground  Dove,  158 

Sparrow,  235,  245 


364 


Grouse,  9,  15,  152,  153 

Ruffed,  11,  153,  154 
Guillemot,  Black,  23 
Gull-billed  Tern,  32,  33 
Gull,  Bonaparte's  27,  31,  32 
Glaucous,  27 


Gull,  Great  Black-backed,  27,  28 
Herring,  27,  28,  29,  30 
Laughing,  27,  30,  31,  118 
Ring-billed,  27,  30 

Gulls,  15,  25,  26,  27,  29,  117 


Hairyhead,  59 

Hairy  Woodpecker,  10,  189,  190,  191 

Southern,  11,  189 
Hangers,  267 
Hawk,  Blue-tailed,  165 

Broad-winged,  167,  168,  169 

Chicken,  165,  166,  167 

Cooper's,  165,  166 

Duck,  173 

Fish,  162,  175 

Hen,  167 

Marsh,  12,  164 

Pigeon,  173,  174 

Rabbit,  164 

Red-shouldered,  167,  168,  213 

Red-tailed,  167 

Rough-legged,  169,  170 

Sharp-shinned,  165,  166 

Snake,  162 

Sparrow,  173,  174 

Swainson's,  167,  168 
Hawks,  1,  15,  159,  162,  183,  204 
Hedge  Sparrow,  4 
Hell-diver,  19 
Hen  Hawk,  167 
Henslow's  Sparrow,  237,  238 


Hermit  Thrush,  329,  332,  333 
Heron,  Black-crowned  Night,  105 

Great  Blue,  97,  98 

Green,  104 

Little  Blue,  11,  102,  103,  118 

Louisiana,  11,  101,  102,  103,  118 

Night,  95,  105 

Snowy,  103,  118 

Yellow-crowned  Night,  106 
Herons,  1,  15,  93,  95,  103 
Herring  Gull,  27,  28,  29,  30 
Hobbie,  2 

Holboell's  Grebe,  17,  18 
Hooded  Merganser,  58 

Warbler,  11,  305,  306 
Hoot  Owl,  180 
Horned  Grebe,  18,  19 

Lark,  211,  212 

Lark,  Prairie,  211,  212 

Owl,  Great,  178,  179,  182,  183,  184 
House  Sparrow,  European,  232 

Wren,  313,  315,  316 
Hudsonian  Curlew,  117,  143,  144 

Godwit,  134,  135 

Hummingbird,  Ruby-throated,  200,  201,  328 
Hummingbirds,  5,  16,  196,  200 


Ibises,  15,  93,  96 
Ibis,  Glossy,  94 

White,  12,  93,  94,  95 

Wood,  93,  95 
Indian  Hen,  104 


Indigo,  255,  256 

Big,  255 

Bunting,  255,  256 
Ipswich  Sparrow,  230,  235 
Ivory-billed  Woodpecker,  5,  188,  192 


Jackdaw,  226 

Jack  Snipe,  126,  130 

Jaeger,  Long-tailed,  25,  26 
Parasitic,  25,  26 
Pomarine,  25,  26 

Jaegers,  15,  25,  26 

Jaybird,  213 

Jay,  Blue,  213 


Kentucky  Warbler,  11,  301,  302 
Killdeer,  147,  309 


K 


Jays,  16,  202,  212 

Joerigger,  251 

Joree,  251 

Joreeper,  251 

Junco,  12,  227 

Carolina,  10,  245,  246 
Slate-colored,  246,  246,  247 


Kingbird,  12,  172,  202,  203,  204 
Gray,  203 


INDEX  OF  COMMON 


365 


King  Eider,  81,  82 

Rail,  107,  108,  110,  114 
Kingfisher,  Belted,  187 
Kingfishers,  15,  184,  185,  187,  188,  264 
Kinglet,  Golden-crowned,  326,  327 

Ruby-crowned,  326,  327 
Kinglets,  202,  326 
Kirtland's  Warbler,  283,  298 


Kite,  Mississippi,  163 
Swallow-tailed,  162 
White-tailed,  163 

Kites,  159,  162 

Knock  Molly,  81 

Knot,  117,  128 

Krieker,  117 


Lady  of  the  Waters,  102 
Lamellirostral  Swimmers,  53 
Lapland  Bunting,  234 

Longspur,  233,  234 
Lapwing,  2 
Lark,  Field,  210,  220 

Horned,  211,  212 

Prairie  Horned,  211,  212 

Sparrow,  241,  242 
Larks,  201,  210 
Laughing  Gull,  27,  30,  31,  118 
Lawrence's  Warbler,  279 
Leach's  Petrel,  44 
Least  Bittern,  96,  97 

Cory's,  97 

Flycatcher,  11,  207,  209,  210 

Sandpiper,  118,  129,  130,  131,  132,  133 

Tern,  33,  37,  38,  118 
Leconte's  Sparrow,  237,  238,  239 
Lesser  Scaup  Duck,  54,  70,  73,  74,  75,  77,  78 

Yellow-legs,  118,  137 
Lettuce-Bird,  231 
Limpkin,  107 
Lincoln's  Sparrow,  248,  249 


Macgillivray's  Seaside  Sparrow,  238,  241 
Magnolia  Warbler,  283,  287,  288,  306 
Mallard,  53,  54,  69,  60,  61,  62,  63,  65,  67 
Man-o'-war-bird,  12,  45,  52,  53 
Marbled  Godwit,  134,  135 
Marian's  Marsh  Wren,  11,  318,  319 
Marsh  Birds,  106 
Hawk,  12,  164 
Wren,  312,  317 

Long-billed,  318,  319 
Marian's,  11,  318,  319 
Short-billed,  317 
Worthington's,  318,  319 
Martin,  Black,  259 

Purple,  12,  13,  259 
Maryland  Yellow-throat,  303,  304 
Meadowlark,  210,  220,  221 
Southern,  221 


M 


Linnet,  Redpoll,  230 

Little  Blackheads,  73,  74,  75,  76,  77 

Blue  Heron,  11,  102,  103,  118 

Scaup,  75 

Striker,  37 

White  Crane,  103 
Log-cock,  193 

Loggerhead  Shrike,  265,  266,  267 
Long-billed  Curlew,  143 

Dowitcher,  127 

Marsh  Wren,  318,  319 

Water-Thrush,  301 
Long-eared  Owl,  178,  179 
Longspur,  Lapland,  233 
Long-tailed  Jaeger,  25,  26 
Long  Tom,  98 

Long-winged  Swimmers,  25,  41 
Loon,  20,  21 

Common,  21,  22 

Red-throated,  18,  20,  21,  22 

War,  20 

Loons,  15,  17,  20,  21 
Louisiana  Heron,  11,  101,  102,  103,  118 

Water-Thrush,  11,  276,  299,  300,  301 


Merganser,  56 

Hooded,  58 

North  American,  59 

Red-breasted,  56,  57,  58 
Mergansers,  54,  57,  58,  59 
Merlin,  2 
Merlin-baws,  1 
Migrant  Shrike,  265,  267 
Mississippi  Kite,  163 
Mockingbird,  11,  309,  310,  312 

French,  267 

Rusty,  311 

Mockingbirds,  202,  309 
Mocking  Wren,  314 
Monkey-faced  Owl,  177 
Moorehen,  2 

Mother  Gary's  Chickens,  44 
Mountain  Pheasant,  155 


366 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Mountain,  Solitary  Vireo,  269,  271 

Vireo,  271 
Mourning  Dove,  12,  157,  158,  159 

Warbler,  301,  303 


Nashville  Warbler,  277,  279,  280 
Nelson's  Sparrow,  238,  239,  240 
Nighthawk,  8,  39,  198,  199 
Night  Heron,  95,  105 

Black-crowned,  105 

Yellow-crowned,  106 
Nonpareil,  11,  222,  256 
North  American  Mergansers,  59 
North  Carolina  Wood  Warblers,  298 
Northern  Diver,  Great,  20,  21 


N 


Murre,  Briinnich's,  23 

Murres,  22,  23 

Myrtle  Warbler,  266,  283,  287 


Northern,  Flicker,  195 

Parula  Warbler,  282 

Phalarope,  119,  120 

Pileated  Woodpecker,  192 

Raven,  213,  214 

Shrike,  265 
Nuthatch,  Brown-headed,  11,  309,  321,  323 

Red-breasted,  10,  321,  322 

White-breasted,  274,  321,  322 
Nuthatches,  202,  321 


Old  Cranky,  98 
Old-Squaw,  55,  81 
Old  Squaw  Ducks,  81 
Old  World  Warblers,  202 
Olive-backed  Thrush,  329,  331,  332 
Olive-sided  Flycatcher,  11,  205,  206 
Orange-crowned  Warbler,  277,  280 
Orchard  Oriole,  11,  222,  223 
Oriole,  Baltimore,  12,  222,  223 

Orchard,  11,  222,  223 
Orioles,  16,  202,  216 
Osprey,  11,  162,  175,  176,  177,  225 
Ospreys,  159,  162,  176 
Oven-bird,  299 
Owl,  Barn,  159,  177 


Owl,  Barred,  180 

Cat,  183 

Florida  Barred,  180 

Florida  Screech,  182 

Great  Horned,  178,  179,  182,  183,  184 

Hoot,  180 

Long-eared,  178,  179 

Monkey-faced,  177 

Saw-whet,  181 

Screech,  178,  181,  182 

Short-eared,  178,  179,  180 

Snowy,  184 
Owls,  15,  159,  178 
Oyster-catcher,  11,  117,  118,  151 


Painted  Bunting,  11,  255,  256 
Palm  Warbler,  283,  296 

Yellow,  283,  296,  297 
Parasitic,  Jaeger,  25,  26 
Paroquet,  Carolina,  1,  184 
Paroquets,  3 
Parrots,  1,  15,  184 
Partridge,  1,  152 
Parula  Warbler,  281,  282,  291 

Northern,  282 
Passenger  Pigeon,  2,  157 
Peabody  Bird,  243 
Pectoral  Sandpiper,  129 
Peep,  131 
Peeps,  117,  148 
Pelican,  Brown,  4,  49,  50,  51 

White,  49,  50 
Pelicans,  4,  15,  45,  49 
Perching  Birds,  16,  201 


Peregrine  Falcon,  173 
Petrel,  Leach's,  44 

Wilson's,  43,  44 
Petrels,  15,  41 
Pewee,  205 

Wood,  206,  207,  209 
Phalarope,  Northern,  119,  120 

Red,  118,  119 

Wilson's,  120,  121 
Phalaropes,  15,  118 
Pheasant,  153 

English,  156 

English  Ring-necked,  156 

Mountain,  155 

Ring-necked,  156 
Pheasants,  146,  152 
Philadelphia  Vireo,  267,  269 
Phcebe,  205 
Pied-billed  Grebe,  19 


INDEX  OF  COMMON 


367 


Pigeon,  159,  182 

Hawk,  173,  174 

Passenger,  2,  157 
Pigeons,  15,  156 
Pileated  Woodpecker,  188,  192,  193 

Northern,  192 
Pine  Siskin,  10,  231,  232 

Warbler,  11,  283,  287,  295,  296 
Pink  Curlew,  93 
Pintail,  54,  68 

Piping  Plover,  2,  11,  117,  118,  147,  148,  149 
Pipit,  210,  308 
Plover,  Black-bellied,  2,  145,  146 

Golden,  2, 116,  145,  146,  147 

Piping,  2,  11,  117,  118,  147,  148,  149 

Ring-necked,  118,  148 


Plover,  Semipalmated,  147,  148 

Upland,  140,  141 

Wilson's,  2,  118,  149 
Plovers,  2,  15,  118,  144,  150 
Pomarine  Jaeger,  25,  26 
Pompey,  304 
Prairie  Horned  Lark,  211,  212 

Warbler,  11,  283,  297,  298 
Prey,  Birds  of,  159 

Prothonotary  Warbler,  11,  271,  274,  275 
Puffin,  22,  23 
Purple  Finch,  227,  228 

Gallinule,  113 

Crackle,  225 

Martin,  12,  13,  259 

Sandpiper,  129 


Quail,  7,  8,  9,  152,  165 
American,  152 


Rabbit  Hawk,  164 
Raft  Duck,  54,  73 
Rail,  Black,  113 

Clapper,  11,  107,  108,  109,  110 

King,  107,  108,  110,  114 

Virginia,  107,  110,  111 

Wayne's  Clapper,  107,  110 

Yellow,  112 
Rails,  15,  106,  107 
Rain-crow,  185,  186 
Raven,  10,  214,  215 

Northern,  213,  214 
Razor-billed  Auk,  23,  24 
Red-back,  117 

Red-backed  Sandpiper,  118,  131,  132 
Red-bellied  Woodpecker,  194 
Red-bellied  Tropic-bird,  45 
Redbird,  252 

Summer,  257 

Winter,  252 
Red-breasted  Merganser,  56,  57,  58 

Nuthatch,  10,  321,  322 

Snipe,  126 

Red-cockaded  Woodpecker,  11,  189,  190,  191 
Red-eyed  Vireo,  267,  268,  269,  270 
Redhead,  54,  55,  70,  71,  72,  73,  85,  90 
Red-headed  Woodpecker,  172,  194 
Red-legged  Duck,  61 
Red  Phalarope,  118,  119 
Redpoll,  230 

Linnet,  230 
Red-shouldered  Hawk,  167,  168,  213 


R 


Quillaree,  330 


Redstart,  11,  306,  307,  308 
Red-tailed  Hawk,  167 
Red-throated  Loon,  18,  20,  21,  22 
Red-winged  Blackbird,  219,  220 
Reed-bird,  217 
Ricebird,  217,  218 
Ring-billed  Gull,  27,  30 
Ringneck,  117,  148 
Ring-necked  Duck,  70,  76,  77 

Pheasant,  156 
English,  156 

Plover,  118,  148 
River  Ducks,  54,  55 
Robin,  12,  257,  258,  333,  334 

Snipe,  128 

Southern,  334 

Swamp,  330 

Wood,  330 
Roseate  Spoon  bill,  93 

Tern,  33,  36,  37 

Rose-breasted  Grosbeak,  11,  253,  254 
Rough-legged  Hawk,  169,  170 
Rough-winged  Swallow,  13,  262,  263 
Royal  Tern,  33,  34,  35,  36,  40 
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet,  326,  327 
Ruby-throated  Hummingbird,  200,  201,  328 
Ruddy  Duck,  54,  84,  85 

Turnstone,  150 
Ruff,  140 

Ruffed  Grouse,  11,  153,  154 
Rusty  Blackbird,  224 

Mockingbird,  311 


368 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Saddleback,  28 
Sanderling,  133 
Sandhill  Crane,  2,  106,  107 
Sandpiper,  Baird's,  131 

Bartramian,  140 

Buff-breasted,  141 

Least,  118,  129,  130,  131,  132,  133 

Pectoral,  129 

Purple,  129 

Red-backed,  118,  131,  132 

Semipalmated,  118,  131,  132,  133 

Solitary,  138,  142 

Spotted,  138,  142 

Stilt,  127 

Western,  132,  133 

White-rumped,  116,  129,  130 
Sandpipers,  118,  123,  126 
Sapsucker,  189,  190 

Yellow-bellied,  11,  191,  192 
Savannah  Blackbird,  185 

Crane,  106 

Sparrow,  230,  235,  236 

Western,  235 
Saw-bill,  57 
Saw-Duck,  57 
Saw-whet  Owl,  181 
Scarlet  Tanager,  11,  12,  256,  257 
Scaup  Duck,  55,  70,  73,  74 

Lesser,  54,  55,  70,  73,  74,  75,  77,  78 
Little,  75 

Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher,  202 
Scoter,  55,  82,  83 

Surf,  82,  83,  84 

White-winged,  82,  83 
Scoters,  54 

Scott's  Seaside  Sparrow,  238,  241 
Scout,  104 
Scow,  104 
Scratchers,  152 
Screech  Owl,  178,  181,  182 

Florida ,  182 
Sea  Chickens,  117,  118,  131,  132 

Coot,  83 

Ducks,  54,  56 
Seagulls,  27 
Seaside  Sparrow,  238,  240 

Macgillivray's,  238,  241 
Scott's,  238,  241 
Semipalmated  Plover,  147,  148 

Sandpiper,  118,  131,  132,  133 
Sharp-shinned  Hawk,  165,  166 
Sharp-tailed  Sparrow,  238,  239,  240 


Shearwater,  40 

Audubon's,  41,  42,  43 

Cory's,  41,  42 

Greater,  41,  42 

Sooty,  41,  43 
Shearwaters,  41 
Sheldrake,  56,  57 
Sheldrakes,  56 
Shore-birds,  116 
Short-billed  Marsh  Wren,  317 
Short-eared  Owl,  178,  179,  180 
Shoveller,  66,  67 
Shrike,  Loggerhead,  265,  266,  267 

Migrant,  265,  267 

Northern,  265 
Shrikes,  202,  262,  265,  266 
Shypoke,  104 
Siskin,  Pine,  10,  231,  232 
Skimmer,  Black,  11,  40,  41 
Skimmers,  25,  40 
Skuas,  25 
Skunk  Head,  84 
Skylark,  210,  308 
Slate-colored  Junco,  245,  246,  247 
Small-billed  Water-Thrush,  300 
Snake  Hawk,  162 
Snipe,  English,  126 

Jack,  126,  130 

Red-breasted,  126 

Robin,  128 

Wilson's,  124,  125,  129 
Snipes,  15,  118,  123 
Snowbird,  246,  247 

Black,  246 

Carolina,  6,  246 
Snow  Bunting,  233 

Goose,  85,  87,  93 

Greater,  85,  86 
Snowflake,  233 
Snowy  Egret,  11,  100,  101 

Herons,  103,  118 

Owl,  184 
Solitary  Sandpiper,  138,  142 

Vireo,  Mountain,  269,  271 
Song  Sparrow,  11,  248,  249,  250,  314 
Sooty  Shearwater,  41,  43 

Tern,  33,  38 
Sora,  111 

South  Carolina  Buzzard,  161 
Southern  Downy  Woodpecker,  11,  189,  190 

Hairy  Woodpecker,  11,  189 

Meadowlark,  221 

Robin,  334 


INDEX  OF  COMMON 


369 


Sparrow,  Bachman's  11,  247 

Bush,  245 

Chipping,  228,  241,  243,  244,  245,  266 

Clay-colored,  243,  251 

English,  12,  216,  232,  256 

European  House,  232 

Field,  243,  245 

Fox,  251 

Grasshopper,  236,  237 

Ground,  235,  245 

Hawk,  173,  174 

Hedge,  4 

Henslow's,  237,  238 

Ipswich,  230,  235 

Lark,  241,  242 

Leconte's,  237,  238,  239 

Lincoln's,  248,  249 

Macgillivray's  Seaside,  238,  241 

Nelson's,  238,  239,  240 

Savannah,  230,  235,  236 

Scott's  Seaside,  238,  241 

Seaside,  238,  240 

Sharp-tailed,  238,  239,  240 

Song,  11,  248,  249,  250,  314 

Swamp,  243,  248,  250 

Tree,  243,  244 

Vesper,  11,  234 

Western  Savannah,  235 

White-crowned,  242 

White-throated,  12,  242,  243,  250 

Yellow-winged,  237 
Sparrows,  16,  202,  226 
Spoonbill,  Roseate,  93 
Spotted  Sandpiper,  138,  142 
Squaw  Ducks,  Old,  81 
Squaws,  Old,  54,  81 
Starling,  216 
Stilt,  Blacknecked,  122,  123 

Sandpiper,  127 


Stilts,  118,  121 
Stock  Doves,  1 
Stone  Curlew,  94 
Storks,  15,  93,  95 
Striker,  Little,  37 
Summer  Duck,  69 

Redbird,  257 

Tanager,  11,  256,  257,  258 

Yellow-bird,  284 
Surf-Birds,  150 
Surf  Scoter,  82,  83,  84 
Swainson's  Hawk,  167,  168 

Warbler,  11,  275 
Swallow,  Bank,  262,  263 

Barn,  11,  13,  260,  261 

Chimney,  199 

Cliff,  260 

Eaves,  260 

Rough-winged,  13,  262,  263 

Tree,  261,  262 

White-bellied,  261 
Swallows,  16,  202,  258,  264 
Swallow-tailed  Kite,  162 
Swamp  Robin,  330 

Sparrow,  243,  248,  250 
Swans,  1,  15,  53,  54,  55,  82,  92 
Swan,  Trumpeter,  92 

Whistling,  54,  91,  92,  93 
Sweet-Canada  Bird,  243 
Swift,  Chimney,  199,  200 
Swifts,  16,  196,  199,  200 
Swimmers,  Lamellirostral,  53 

Long-winged,  25,  41 

Totipalmate,  45 

Tube-nosed,  41 
Swinging-birds,  267 
Sycamore  Warbler,  283,  293 


Tanagers,  202,  222,  256 
Tanager,  Scarlet,  11,  12,  256,  257 

Summer,  11,  256,  257,  258 
Teal,  54,  56,  65 

Blue-winged,  66 

Cinnamon,  173 

European,  64 

Green-winged,  64,  65,  66 
Tennessee  Warbler,  277,  281 
Tern,  Arctic,  33 

Black,  39,  146 

Cabot's  33,  35 

Caspian,  33 


Tern,  Common,  33,  36 
Forster's,  33,  35 
Gull-billed,  32,  33 
Least,  33,  37,  38,  118 
Roseate,  33,  36,  37 
Royal,  33,  34,  35,  36,  40 
Sooty,  33,  38 

Terns,  15,  25,  26,  27,  32 

Thistle-Bird,  231 

Thrasher,  Brown,  311,  312 

Thrashers,  309 

Thrush,  Bicknell's,  329,  331 
Brown,  311 


370 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Thrush,  Golden-crowned,  299 
Gray-cheeked,  329,  331,  332 
Hermit,  329,  332,  333 
Olive-backed,  329,  331,  332 
Wilson's,  10,  330 
Wood,  329,  330,  331,  334 

Thrushes,  16,  202,  329 

Titlark,  308 

Titmice,  202,  324 

Titmouse,  Tufted,  324 

Tomtit,  325 

Totipalmate  Swimmers,  45 

Towhee,  251,  252,  253 
White-eyed,  252 

Toxaway  Bird,  257 

Traill's  Flycatcher,  209 

Tree  Duck,  55 

Fulvous,  91 


Upland  Plover,  140,  141 


Tree,  Sparrow,  243,  244 

Swallow,  261,  262 
Tropic-bird,  Red-billed,  45 

Yellow-billed,  45 
Tropic-birds,  45 
Trumpeter  Swan,  92 
Tube-nosed  Swimmers,  41,  81 
Tufted  Titmouse,  324 
Turkey  Buzzard,  160 

Vulture,  12,  160,  161,  172,  204 

Wild,  7,  154,  155,  156,  170 
Turkey-cocks,  1 
Turkey-hens,  1 

Turkeys,  1,  15,  152,  154,  155,  156,  215 
Turnstone,  Ruddy,  150 
Turnstones,  2,  118,  150 
Tyrant  Flycatchers,  202 


U 


Veery,  329,  330,  331 

Vesper  Sparrow,  11,  234 

Vireo,  Blue-headed,  269,  270,  271 
Mountain,  271 

Solitary,  269,  271 
Philadelphia,  267,  269 
Red-eyed,  267,  268,  269,  270 
Warbling,  11,  267,  269 


Wagtails,  202,  308 
Warbler,  Bachman's,  277 

Bay-breasted,  283,  287,  290 

Birch,  280 

Black  and  White,  273,  274,  276,  291,  293 

Blackburnian,  10,  283,  291,  292 

Black-poll,  283,  287,  288,  290,  291 

Black-throated  Blue,  282,  283,  285,  286 
Green,  10,  11,  283,  294 

Blue-winged,  277,  278,  279 

Blue  Yellow-backed,  281 

Brewster's,  279 

Cairns's,  6,  10,  282,  285,  286 

Canada,  10,  305,  307 

Cape  May,  283,  284 

Cerulean,  283,  288,  289,  290 

Chestnut-sided,  10,  283,  289 

Connecticut,  146,  301,  302,  303 

Fly-catching,  306 

Golden-winged,  10,  277,  278,  279 

Hooded,  11,  305,  306 

Kentucky,  11,  301,  302 


W 


Vireo,  White-eyed,  272 

Yellow-throated,  269,  270,  271 
Vireos,  16,  201,  202,  264,  267,  268,  269 
Virginia  Rail,  107,  110,  111 
Vulture,  Black,  11,  160,  161,  162 

Turkey,  12,  160,  161,  172,  204 
Vultures,  15,  159,  204 

American,  159 


Warbler,  Kirtland's,  283,  298 
Lawrence's,  279 
Magnolia,  283,  287,  288,  306 
Mourning,  301,  303 
Myrtle,  266,  283,  207 
Nashville,  277,  279,  280 
Northern  Parula,  282 
Orange-crowned,  277,  280 
Palm,  283,  296 
Parula,  281,  282,  291 
Pine,  11,  283,  287,  295,  296 
Prairie,  11,  283,  297,  298 
Prothonotary,  11,  271,  274,  275 
Swainson's,  11,  275 
Sycamore,  283,  293 
Tennessee,  277,  281 
Wilson's,  305,  306,  307 
Worm-eating,  11,  276 
Yellow,  11,  282,  284,  285 
Palm,  283,  296,  297 

Yellow-throated,  11,  283,  289,  292,  293, 
294 


INDEX  OF  COMMON 


371 


Warblers,  12,  16 

North  Carolina  Wood,  298 

Old  World,  202 

Wood,  202,  272,  326 
Warbling  Vireo,  11,  267,  269 
War  Loon,  20 
Water-Thrush,  299,  300 

Long-billed,  301 

Louisiana,  11,  276,  299,  300,  301 

Small-billed,  300 
Water-Turkey,  11,  46,  47 
Water  Witch,  19 
Wayne's  Clapper  Rail,  107,  110 
Waxwing,  Cedar,  264 
Waxwings,  202,  264 
Western  Sandpiper,  132,  133 

Savannah  Sparrow,  235 

Willet,  138,  139 

Whip-poor-will,  11,  196,  197,  198,  199 
Whistler,  78 

Whistling  Swan,  54,  91,  92,  93 
White  Brant,  86,  87 

Crane,  Little,  103 

Ibis,  12,  93,  94,  95 

Pelican,  49,  50 

White-breasted  Nuthatch,  274,  321,  322 
White-bellied  Swallow,  261 
WTiite-crowned  Sparrow,  242 
White-eyed  Towhee,  252 

Vireo,  272 

White-fronted  Goose,  87,  88 
White-rumped  Sandpiper,  116,  129,  130 
White-tailed  Kite,  163 
White-throated  Sparrow,  12,  242,  243,  250 
White-winged  Crossbill,  229,  230 

Scoter,  82,  83 
Widgeon,  64 

American,  63 

European,  63,  64 
Wilcrissen,  196 
Wild  Canary,  231 

Goose,  54,  89 

Mare,  141 

Turkey,  7,  154,  155,  156,  170 
Willet,  2,  11,  117,  138,  139 

Western,  138,  139 


Wilson's  Blackcap,  306 

Petrel,  43,  44 

Phalarope,  120,  121 

Plover,  2,  118,  149 

Snipe,  124,  125,  129 

Thrush,  10,  330 

Warbler,  305,  306,  307 
Will's-widow,  197 
Winter  Duck,  61 

Redbird,  252 

Wren,  10,  316,  317 
Witch,  Black,  185 

Water,  19 
Woodcock,  124,  125,  193 

European,  125 
Wood  Duck,  53,  62,  69,  70,  76 

Ibis,  93,  95 

Pewee,  206,  207,  209 

Robin,  330 

Thrush,  329,  330,  331,  334 

Warblers,  202,  272,  326 

Woodpecker,  Downy,  10,  189,  190,  191 
Hairy,  10,  11,  189,  190,  191 
Ivory-billed,  5,  188,  192 
Northern  Pileated,  192 
Pileated,  188,  192,  193 
Red-bellied,  194 
Red-cockaded,  11,  189,  190,  191 
Red-headed,  172,  194 
Southern  Downy,  11,  189,  190 
Hairy,  11,  189 

Woodpeckers,  15,  188,  189,  190,  191,  193 
Wood  Warblers,  North  Carolina,  298 
Worm-eating  Warbler,  11,  276 
Worthington's  Marsh  Wren,  318,  319 
Wren,  Bewick's,  10,  313,  314,  315 

Carolina,  11,  12,  197,  302,  313,  314 

House,  313,  315,  316 

Long-billed  Marsh,  318,  319 

Marian's  Marsh,  11,  318,  319 

Mairsh,  312,  317 

Mocking,  314 

Short-billed  Marsh,  317 

Winter,  10,  316,  317 

Worthington's  Marsh,  318,  319 

Wrens,  16,  202,  308,  312 


Yellow-backed  Warbler,  Blue,  281 
Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher,  207,  208 
Sapsucker,  11,  191,  192 


Yellow-billed  Cuckoo,  185,  186 

Tropic-bird,  45 
Yellow-bird,  Summer,  284 


372 


Yellow-breasted  Chat,  272,  304,  305 
Yellow-crowned  Night  Heron,  106 
Yellow-hammer,  195 
Yellow-legs,  117,  122,  137,  138 

Greater,  118,  136,  137 

Lesser,  118,  137 
Yellow  Palm  Warbler,  283,  296,  297 

Rail,  112 


Yellow  Warbler,  11,  282,  284,  285 
Yellow-shanks,  136 
Yellow-throat,  Florida,  304 

Maryland,  303,  304 
Yellow-throated  Vireo,  269,  270,  271 

Warbler,  11,  283,  292,  293,  294 
Yellow-winged  Sparrow,  237 


INDEX  OF  SCIENTIFIC  NAMES 

(For  description  of  species  refer  to  pages  represented  by  black-face  figures) 


Acanthis,  227,  230 

linaria  linaria,  230 
Accipiter,  162,  164 

cooperi,  165 

velox,  165 
Actitis,  124,  142 

macularia,  142 
jEgialitis,  144,  147 

meloda,  148 

semipalmata,  148 
Agelaius,  216,  219 

phoeniceus  phoeniceus,  219 
Aix,  56,  69 

sponsa,  69 
Ajaia  ajaja,  93 
Alaudida;,  201,  210 
Alca,  23 

torda,  23 

Alcedinidse,  185,  187 
Alcidse,  17,  22 
Alle,  22,  24 

alle,  24 
Aluco,  177 

pratincola,  177 
Aluconidse,  159,  177 
Ammodramus,  227,  236 

savannarum  australis,  236 
Anas,  56,  69 

platyrhynchos,  59 

rubripes,  60 
Anatidse,  53 
Anhinga,  46,  47 

anhinga,  46 

Bseolophus,  324 

bicolor,  324 
Bartramia,  123,  140 

longicauda,  140 
Bombycilla,  264 

cedrorum,  264 
Bombycillidae,  202,  264 
Bonasa,  153 

umbellus  umbellus,  153 
Botaurus,  95 

lentiginosus,  95 
Branta,  55,  88 

bernicla  glaucogastra,  89 


B 


Anhingidse,  45,  46 
Anotis,  26 
Anser,  55,  87 

albifrons  gambeli,  87 
Anseres,  15,  53 
Anserinse,  85 
Anthus,  308 

rubescens,  210,  308 
Antrostomus,  196 

carolinensis,  197 

vociferus  vociferus,  197 
Aphrizidse,  118,  150 
Aquila,  162,  170 

chrysaetos,  170 
Aramidse,  107 
Aramus  vociferus,  107 
Archibuteo,  162,  169 

lagopus  sancti-johannis,  169 
Archilochus,  200 

colubris,  200 
Ardea,  95,  97 

herodias  herodias,  97 
Ardeidse,  93,  95 
Arenaria,  150 

interpres  morinella,  150 
Arquatella,  129 

maritima  maritima,  129 
Asio,  178 

flammeus,  179 

wilsonianus,  178 
Astragalinus,  227,  230 

tristis  tristis,  230 


Branta,  canadensis  canadensis,  88 

leucopsis,  91 
Bubo,  178,  182 

virginianus  virginianus,  182 
Buteo,  162,  166 

borealis  borealis,  167 

lineatus  lineatus,  167 

platypterus  platypterus,  168 

swainsoni,  168 
Buteonidae,  159,  162 
Butorides,  95,  104 

virescens  virescens,  104 


374 


BIRDS  OF  jSToRTH  CAROLINA 


Calcarius,  227,  233 

lapponicus  lapponicus,  233 
Calidris,  123,  133 

leucophaea,  133 
Campephilus,  188 
Campephilus  principalis,  188 
Caprimulgidse,  196 
Cardinalis,  227,  252 

cardinalis  cardinalis,  252 
Carpodacus,  227 

purpureus  purpureus,  227 
Catharista,  159,  161 

urubu  urubu,  161 
Cathartes,  159,  160 

aura  septentrionalis,  160 
Cathartidse,  159 
Catoptrophorus,  124,  138 

semipalmatus  inornatus,  139 

semipalmatus  semipalmatus,  139 
Centurus,  188,  194 

carolinus,  194 
Cepphus,  23 

grylle,  23 
Certhia,  319 

familiaris  americana,  319 
Certhiidaj,  202,  319 
Ceryle,  187 

alcyon  alcyon,  187 
Chsemepelia,  156,  158 

passerina  terrestris,  158 
Chsetura,  199 

pelagica,  199 
Charadriidse,  118,  144 
Charadrius,  144,  145 

dominicus  dominicus,  145 
Charitonetta,  56,  79 

albeola,  79 
Chaulelasmus,  56,  62 

streperus,  62 
Chen,  55.  85 

cserulescens,  87 

hyperboreus  hyperboreus,  85 

hyperboreus  nivalis,  86 
Chondestes,  227,  241 

grammacus  grammacus,  241 
Chordeiles,  196,  199 


Chordeiles,  virginianus  virginianus,  199 
Ciconiidse,  93,  95 
Circus,  162,  164 

hudsonius,  164 
Cistothorus,  312,  317 

stellaris,  317 
Clangula,  56,  77 

clangula  americana,  77 

islandica,  79 
Coccyges,  15,  184 
Coccyzus,  185 

americanus  americanus,  185 

erythrophthalmus,  186 
Colaptes,  188 
Colaptes  auratus,  195 

auratus  auratus,  195 

auratus  luteus,  195 
Colinus,  152 

virginianus  virginianus,  152 
Coluinb®,  15,  156 
Columbidae,  156 
Colymbidse,  17 
Colymbus,  17 

auritus,  18 

holbcellii,  17 
Compsothlypis,  273,  281 

americana  americana,  281 

americana  usnea3,  282 
Conuropsis  carolinensis,  184 
Corvidse,  202,  212 
Corvus,  212,  213 

brachyrhynchos  brachyrhynchos,  215 

corax  principalis,  213 

ossifragus,  216 
Coturnicops,  107,  112 

noveboracensis,  112 
Creciscus,  107,  112 

jamaicensis,  113 
Crotophaga,  185 

ani,  185 
Cryptoglaux,  178,  181 

acadica  acadica,  181 
Cuculidse,  185 
Cuculus  canorus,  185 
Cyanocitta,  212,  213 

cristata  cristata,  213 


Dafila,  56,  68 

acuta,  68 
Dendrocygna,  55,  91 

bicolor,  91 


Dendroica,  273,  282 
sestiva  sestiva,  284 
cserulescens  cserulescens,  285 
cserulescens  cairnsi,  285 


INDEX  OF  SCIENTIFIC  'NAMES 


375 


Dendroica,  castanea,  290 
cerulea,  288 
coronata,  287 
discolor,  297 
dominica  albilora,  293 
dominica  dominica,  292 
fusca,  291 
kirtlandi,  298 
magnolia,  287 

palmarum  hypochrysea,  296 
palmarum  palmarum,  296 
pensylvanica,  289 
striata,  290 


Dendroica,  tigrina,  283 
vigorsi  vigorsi,  295 
virens,  294 

Dolichonyx,  216,  217 
oryzivorus,  217 

Dryobates,  188 
borealis,  190 
pubescens  medianus,  190 
pubescens  pubescens,  190 
villosus  auduboni,  189 
villosus  villosus,  189 

Dumetella,  309,  310 
carolinensis,  310 


Ectopistes  migratorius,  157 
Egretta,  95,  100 

candidissima  candidissima,  100 
Elanoides,  162 

forficatus,  162 
Elanus,  162,  163 

leucurus,  163 
Empidonax,  203,  207 

flaviventris,  207 

minimus,  209 


Empidonax,  trailli  alnorum,  209 

virescens,  208 
Ereunetes,  124,  132 

mauri,  133 

pusillus,  132 
Erismatura,  56,  84 

jamaicensis,  84 
Euphagus,  217,  224 

carolinus,  224 


Falco,  173 

columbarius  columbarius,  173 
perigrinus  anatum,  173 
sparverius  sparverius,  174 

Falconidae,  159,  173 

Florida,  95,  102 

cserulea  cserulea,  102 

Fratercula,  22,  23 

Galling,  15,  152 
Gallinago,  123,  124 

delicata,  124 
Gallinula,  107,  114 

galeata  galeata,  114 
Gavia,  20 

immer,  20 

stellata,  21 
Gaviidae,  17,  20 
Gelochelidon,  26,  32 


G 


Fratercula  artica,  23 
Fregata,  52 

aquila,  52 
Fregatidse,  45,  52 
Fringillidsc,  202,  226 
Fulica,  107,  115 

americana,  115 


Gelochelidon  nilotica,  32 
Geothlypis,  273,  303 

trichas  ignota,  304 

trichas  trichas,  303 
Gruidse,  106 
Grus  mexicana,  106 
Guara,  93 

alba,  93 
Guiraca,  227,  254 

cserulea  cserulea,  254 


Haematopodidse,  118,  151 
Hsematopus,  151 

palliatus,  151 
Haliaeetus,  162,  171 

leucocephalus  leucocephalus,  171 
Harelda,  56,  80 

hyemalis,  80 


Helinaia,  273,  275 

swainsoni,  275 
Helmitheros,  273,  276 

vermivorus,  276 
Helodromas,  124,  138 

solitarius  solitarius,  138 
Herodias,  95,  99 


378 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Penthestes,  atricapillus  atricapillus,  325 

carolinensis  carolinensis,  325 
Petrochelidon,  13,  258,  260 

lunifrons  lunifrons,  260 
Peucsea,  227,  247 

sestivalis  bachmani,  247 
Phsethonse  thereus,  45 

americanus,  45 
Phaethontidse,  45 
Phalacrocoracidse,  45,  47 
Phalacrocorax,  48 

auritus  auritus,  48 

auritus  floridanus,  49 
Phalaropodidse,  118 
Phalaropus,  118 

fulicarius,  118 
Phasianidse,  152,  156 
Phasianus,  156 

colchicus,  156 

colchicus  X  torquatus,  156 

torquatus,  156 
Philohela,  123,  124 

minor,  124 
Phloeotomus,  188,  192 

pileatus,  192 

pileatus  abieticola,  192 

pileatus  pileatus,  192 
Pici,  15,  188 
Picidse,  188 
Pipilo,  227,  251 

erythrophthalmus  alleni,  252 

erythrophthalmus  erythrophthalmus,  251 
Piranga,  256 


Piranga,  erythromelas,  257 

rubra  rubra,  257 
Pisobia,  123,  129 

bairdi,  131 

fuscicollis,  130 

maculata,  129 

minutilla,  130 
Planesticus,  329,  333 

migratorius  achrusterus,  334 

migratorius  migratorius,  333 
Plectrophenax,  227,  233 

nivalis  nivalis,  233 
Plegadis  autumnalis,  94 
Podilymbus,  17 

podiceps,  19 
Polioptila,  202,  326,  328 

cserulea  cjcrulea,  328 
Porecetes,  227,  234 

gramineus  gramineus,  234 
Porzana,  107,  111 

Carolina,  111 
Procellariidse,  41 
Progne,  13,  258,  259 

subis  subis,  13,  259 
Protonotaria,  273,  274 

citrea,  274 
Psittaci,  15,  184 
Puffinus,  41 

borealis,  42 

gravis,  42 

griseus,  43 

Iherminieri,  42 
Pygopodes,  15,  17 


Querquedula,  56,  66 

discors,  66 
Quiscalus,  217,  224 


Rallidse,  107 
Rallus,  107 

crepitans  crepitans,  108 

crepitans  waynei,  110 

elegans,  107 

virginianus,  110 
Raptores,  15,  159 
Recurvirostra,  121 

americana,  121 
Recurvirostridse,  118,  121 


R 


Quiscalus,  quiscula  aeneus,  226 
quiscula  quiscula,  225 


Regulus,  202,  326 

calendula  calendula,  327 

satrapa  satrapa,  326 
Riparia,  13,  258,  262 

riparia,  262 
Rissa,  26 

Rynchopidse,  25,  40 
Rynchops,  40 

nigra,  40 


Sayornis,  203,  205 

phcebe,  205 
Scolopacidse,  118,  123 


Scoplpax  rusticola,  124 
Seiurus,  273,  299 

aurocapillus,  299 


INDEX  OF  SCIENTIFIC  N"AMES 


379 


Seiurus,  motacilla,  300 

noveboracensis  noveboracensis,  300 
Setophalga,  273,  307 

ruticilla,  307 
Sialia,  329,  334 

sialis  sialis,  334 
Sitta,  321 

canadensis,  322 

carolinensis  carolinensis,  321 

pusilla,  323 
Sittidse,  202,  321 
Somateria,  56,  81 

dresseri,  82 

spectabilis,  81 
Spatula,  56,  66 

clypeata,  66 
Sphyrapicus,  188,  190,  191 

varius  varius,  191 
Spinus,  227,  231 

pinus  pinus,  231 
Spiza,  227,  256 

americana,  256 
Spizella,  227,  243 

monticola  monticola,  243 

pallida,  243,  251 

passerina  passerina,  244 

pusilla  pusilla,  245 
Squatarola,  144,  145 

squatarola,  145 
Steganopodes,  15,  45 
Steganopus,  118,  120 

tricolor,  120 
Stelgidopteryx,  13,  14,  258,  263 


Stelgidopteryx,  serripennds,  263 
Stercorariidse,  25 
Stercorarius,  25 

longicaudus,  26 

parasiticus,  26 

pomarinus,  26 
Sterna,  26,  33 

antillarum,  37 

caspia,  33 

dougalli,  36 

forsteri,  35 

fuscata,  38 

hirundo,  36 

maxima,  34 

paradisea,  33 

sandvicensis  acuflavida,  35 
Sterninse,  26,  32 
Strigidse,  159,  178 
Strix,  178,  180 

varia  alleni,  180 

varia  varia,  180 
Sturnella,  216,  220 

magna,  210 

magna  argutula,  221 

magna  magna,  220 
Sturnidse,  216 
Sturnus  vulgaris,  216 
Sula,  45 

bassana,  45 

leucogastra,  46 
Sulidse,  45 
Sylviidse,  202,  326 


Tangaridse,  202,  253 
Telmatodytes,  312,  318 

palustris  griseus,  319 

palustris  mariana?,  319 

palustris  palustris,  318 
Tetraonidse,  152,  153 
Thryomanes,  312,  314 

bewicki  bewicki,  314 
Thryothorus,  312,  313 

ludovicianus  ludovicianus,  313 
Totanus,  124,  136 

flavipes,  137 

melanoleucus,  136 
Toxostoma,  309,  311 

rufum,  311 


Tringa,  123,  128 

canutus,  128 
Trochilidse,  196,  200 
Troglodytes,  312,  315 

sedon  sedon,  315 
Troglodyhidaj,  202,  312 
Tryngites,  123,  141 

subruficollis,  141 
Tubinares,  15,  41 
Turdida;,  202,  329 
Tyrannidte,  201,  202 
Tyrannus,  202,  203 

dominicensis,  203 

tyrannus,  203 


Uria,  23 

lomvia  lomvia,  23 


378 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Penthestes,  atricapillus  atricapillus,  326 

carolinensis  carolinensis,  325 
Petrochelidon,  13,  258,  260 

lunifrons  lunifrons,  260 
Peucaea,  227,  247 

sestivalis  bachmani,  247 
Phsethonse  thereus,  45 

americanus,  45 
Phaethontidse,  45 
Phalacrocoracidse,  45,  47 
Phalacrocorax,  48 

auritus  auritus,  48 

auritus  floridanus,  49 
Phalaropodidse,  118 
Phalaropus,  118 

fulicarius,  118 
Phasianidse,  152,  156 
Phasianus,  156 

colchicus,  156 

colchicus  X  torquatus,  156 

torquatus,  156 
Philohela,  123,  124 

minor,  124 
Phloeotomus,  188,  192 

pileatus,  192 

pileatus  abieticola,  192 

pileatus  pileatus,  192 
Pici,  15,  188 
Picidse,  188 
Pipilo,  227,  251 

erythrophthalmus  alleni,  252 

erythrophthalmus  erythrophthalmus,  251 
Piranga,  256 


Piranga,  erythromelas,  257 

rubra  rubra,  257 
Pisobia,  123,  129 

bairdi,  131 

fuscicollis,  130 

maculata,  129 

minutilla,  130 
Planesticus,  329,  333 

migratorius  achrusterus,  334 

migratorius  migratorius,  333 
Plectrophenax,  227,  233 

nivalis  nivalis,  233 
Plegadis  autumnalis,  94 
Podilymbus,  17 

podiceps,  19 
Polioptila,  202,  326,  328 

cserulea  ca?rulea,  328 
Pocecetes,  227,  234 

gramineus  gramineus,  234 
Porzana,  107,  111 

Carolina,  111 
Procellariidse,  41 
Progne,  13,  258,  259 

subis  subis,  13,  259 
Protonotaria,  273,  274 

citrea,  274 
Psittaci,  15,  184 
Puffinus,  41 

borealis,  42 

gravis,  42 

griseus,  43 

Iherminieri,  42 
Pygopodes,  15,  17 


Querquedula,  56,  66 

discors,  66 
Quiscalus,  217,  224 


Rallidse,  107 
Rallus,  107 

crepitans  crepitans,  108 

crepitans  waynei,  110 

elegans,  107 

virginianus,  110 
Raptores,  15,  159 
Recurvirostra,  121 

americana,  121 
Recurvirostridse,  118,  121 


R 


Quiscalus,  quiscula  aeneus,  226 
quiscula  quiscula,  225 


Regulus,  202,  326 

calendula  calendula,  327 

satrapa  satrapa,  326 
Riparia,  13,  258,  262 

riparia,  262 
Rissa,  26 

Rynchopidse,  25,  40 
Rynchops,  40 

nigra,  40 


Sayornis,  203,  205 

phcebe,  205 
Scolopacidse,  118,  123 


Scoplpax  rusticola,  124 
Seiurus,  273,  299 

aurocapillus,  299 


INDEX  OF  SCIENTIFIC 


379 


Seiurus,  motacilla,  300 

noveboraccnsis  noveboracensis,  300 
Setophalga,  273,  307 

ruticilla,  307 
Sialia,  329,  334 

sialis  sialis,  334 
Sitta,  321 

canadensis,  322 

carolinensis  carolinensis,  321 

pusilla,  323 
Sittidae,  202,  321 
Somateria,  56,  81 

dresseri,  82 

spcctabilis,  81 
Spatula,  56,  66 

clypeata,  66 
Sphyrapicus,  188,  190,  191 

varius  varius,  191 
Spinus,  227,  231 

pinus  pintis,  231 
Spiza,  227,  256 

americana,  256 
Spizella,  227,  243 

monticola  monticola,  243 

pallida,  243,  251 

passerina  passerina,  244 

pusilla  pusilla,  245 
Squatarola,  144,  145 

squatarola,  145 
Steganopodes,  15,  45 
Steganopus,  118,  120 

tricolor,  120 
Stelgidopteryx,  13,  14,  258,  263 


Stelgidopteryx,  serripennds,  263 
Stercorariidse,  25 
Stercorarius,  25 

longicaudus,  26 

parasiticus,  26 

pomarinus,  26 
Sterna,  26,  33 

antillarum,  37 

caspia,  33 

dougalli,  36 

forsteri,  35 

fuscata,  38 

hirundo,  36 

maxima,  34 

paradisea,  33 

sandvicensis  acuflavida,  35 
Sterninse,  26,  32 
StrigidjB,  159,  178 
Strix,  178,  180 

varia  alleni,  180 

varia  varia,  180 
Sturnella,  216,  220 

magna,  210 

magna  argutula,  221 

magna  magna,  220 
Sturnida?,  216 
Sturnus  vulgaris,  216 
Sula,  45 

bassana,  45 

leucogastra,  46 
Sulidse,  45 
Sylviidse,  202,  326 


TangaridaB,  202,  253 
Telmatodytes,  312,  318 

palustris  griseus,  319 

palustris  mariana\  319 

palustris  palustris,  318 
Tetraonidaj,  152,  153 
Thryomanes,  312,  314 

bewicki  bewicki,  314 
Thryothorus,  312,  313 

ludovicianus  ludovicianus,  313 
Totanus,  124,  136 

flavipes,  137 

melanoleucus,  136 
Toxostoma,  309,  311 

rufum,  311 


Tringa,  123,  128 

canutus,  128 
Trochilidse,  196,  200 
Troglodytes,  312,  315 

sedon  sedon,  315 
Troglodyhidse,  202,  312 
Tryngites,  123,  141 

subruficollis,  141 
Tubinares,  15,  41 
Turdidse,  202,  329 
Tyrannidse,  201,  202 
Tyrannus,  202,  203 

dominicensis,  203 

tyrannus,  203 


Uria,  23 

lomvia  lomvia,  23 


ISO 


BIRDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Vermivora,  273,  277 
bachmani,  277 
celata  celata,  280 
chrysoptera,  278 
lawrencei,  279 
leucobronchialis,  279 
peregrina,  281 
pinus,  278 


Wilsonia,  273,  305 
canadensis,  307 


W 


Vermivora,  rubricapilla  rubricapilla,  279 
Vireo,  267,  272 

griseus  griseus,  272 
Vireonidse,  202,  267 
Vireosylvs,  267 

gilva  gilva,  269 

olivacea,  268 

philadelphica,  269 


Wilsonia,  citrina,  305 
pusilla  pusilla,  306 


Xema,  26 


Zamelodia,  227,  253 

ludoviciana,  253 
Zenaidura,  156,  157 

macroura  carolinensis,  157 


Zonotrichia,  227,  242 
albicillis,  243 
leucophrys  leucophrys,  242 


FOURTEEN  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 


Sol       Library 


This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


•"H  06  I9S7 

T  r>  01    inn      o  '«;«;                                           General  Library 
L£  21-100m-2,  55                                  University  of  California 
(B139s22)47o                                                      Berkeley 

U   C.  BERKELEY  LIBRAR  E^ 


